Confirmation Of The Sayings Of Jesus Christ
By
The Man Who Saw God Face To Face
Raphael Okechukwu Nweze
Moral And Religious Sayings Of The Jesus
Part II
- Always Do Good.
Jesus said to the Children of Israel, "Do not reward an evil-doer with evil, for your favour will go for nothing with your Lord."
Do not hesitate to do good, because an opportunity lost may not be regained. Whenever you fail to do good, you lose your blessings from God.
- The True Believer
This word is handed down from Jesus, son of Mary, "Four things are found only in a believer: silence which is the beginning of devotion, humility, glorifying of God and a small amount of evil."
Aspire to become a saint, who is fond of silence, always humble, glorifies God even for tiny favours and fortunes, and is full of goodness. The world do well to celebrate the saints, but why do they neglect the more important duty, which is to also become living saints of God?
- God Consciousness
It is related concerning Jesus, son of Mary , that he said, "Every word which is not accompanied by mention of God is vanity; and every silence which is not accompanied by meditation is negligence; and every speculation which is not accompanied by a tear is folly. So blessed is he whose speech is mention of God, whose silence is meditation, and whose speculation is a tear."
There are only two things in life. One is light and the other is darkness. He who is always conscious of God dwells in the light. He is already in the kingdom without knowing it. The person who does not remember God is like the a thief who went to steal what does not belong to himself, only to end up stealing himself into darkness. This happened to Lucifer.
- Whatever A Man Sows, that He Reaps.
It is written in the Gospel, "He who sows evil reaps remorse."
He reaps not only remorse, but also evil and condemnation.
- Action And Reaction Are Equal And Opposite.
It is related concerning Katāda that he said: It was mentioned to us that [the following] is written in the Gospel, "O son of man, as you show pity so will you be pitied; for how can you hope that God will pity you if you do not show pity to His servants?"
The universe is like an intelligent spherical mirror. It reflects back to you whatever you do in it, even manifold.
- The Cause Of Hardness Of Heart
Mālik, son of Anas, said: It has reached me that Jesus said, "Do not speak much without mention of God, or your hearts will become hard, and the hard heart is far from God; but you do not know."
That is why some say that God does not exist, others say that He does not appear in visible form, and yet others say that any person who sees God shall die. Even now, many have no time for God. And majority of the men live as if they are not accountable to God. I counsel you to repent, lest you perish, for I have seen the Lord Almighty several times.
- The Lord Is Within You
[The following] is quoted from Jesus, son of Mary , "What is the use to a blind man, if he carries a lamp while others get light from it? And what is the use of a dark house having a lamp on its roof? And what is the use of your speaking with wisdom and not acting with it?" (Modified)
The foolish man says that there is no God, while the saints know God and experience the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, the foolish man is blind to the truth.
How can you claim to be living when the God in you is not manifest.
Every man has all that he needs to seek and find God, but majority would not accustom themselves to silence, self-knowledge, selflessness, devotion, meditation and study of the scriptures. They prefer spiritual indolence (laziness) to a serious search.
- Seek The Glory From God.
It is related concerning Jesus, son of Mary, that he said, "There is nothing wonderful about one perishing in the way he perishes, but there is something wonderful about one being saved in the way he is saved."
The one is glorious and everlasting, while the other is vanity, which could have been avoided.
- Mercy Is Best.
Jesus said, "If Thou punishest them they are Thy servants, and if Thou forgivest them Thou art the mighty and the wise One."
If you thing you are great, show it by being merciful, without being foolish.
- There Is No Death.
In the Gospel [there is written], "I am the prince of life and the ways of truth; whoever believes in me and dies, has not died a death but has only lived a life."
On several occasions, I have crossed the bridge called death, only to discover that life is everlasting. What we call death is not death, and what we call birth is not birth, for death is not the end of life and birth is not the beginning of life.
- Experience Is Necessary
Jesus said to the disciples, "Verily I say unto you, the speaker of wisdom and the hearer of it are partners, and the one of them who is more worthy of it is he who verifies it by his deeds."
Do not become blind believers of everything. Investigate. It is your right to ask questions. Do not lose your power of independent thinking. Examine your beliefs. Wrong beliefs and practices shall not last, if you are open-minded and yet, careful. Do inquire from God.
- Meaning Of Wisdom
It is related that Jesus said to the disciples, "I do not teach you that you should wonder; I only teach you that you should act. Wisdom is not talking wisely; wisdom is only acting wisely."
It is good to wonder, for to wonder shows that something is a wonder, wonderful or a wonder of wonders. To wonder is to appreciate what God has done, which He does with wisdom and out of love. I thank you, Father, that you are the Wonder, your ways are Wonderful and the Holy Trinity is the Wonder of all Wonders. I remain happy, and my heart always bulbs with joyfulness and gladness, that you made all things wonderful. I thank you that you safely brought us to glory.
It is good to talk wisely, but it is far better to talk wisely and also act wisely.
It is good to wonder. But it is far better to wonder, understand and appreciate, and follow in the footstep of the Almighty. Children always clothe yourself with the glory of the Father.
- Regret Nothing.
Jesus said, "If you are able to be simple like a dove concerning God, then do so; nothing is more simple than a dove. You may take its two young from under it and kill them, and it will return to that very place and bring forth [others] in it."
Develop a calm supremacy of mind over every life situation. Have disappointment without being disappointed. Receive insults as if you are not the one being insulted. Accept loss without regretting it. Attend to both male and female as if there is no difference between the two. Avoid unnecessary discriminations. Be level-headed in pleasure and pain. Be even-tempered in praise and censor. For spirit is always pure and the same thing in different manifestations. Be as wise as humility, which is like a fathomless bag that contains all good things, and yet it neither makes noise nor boasts.
- Fellowship With God
Jesus said, "Speak much to God and speak little to men." They said, "How shall we speak much to God?" He said, "Be apart in intercourse with Him; be apart in prayer to Him."
Everyday fellowship with God is the key to solutions. It is health and soundness of mind. Become like a piece of charcoal that entered into the fire and refused to leave it, so that it became fire, red hot and one with fire. Yet, fulfill your responsibilities.
- Right Priority
Jesus, son of Mary , said, "The steps slip only with regard to three things: smallness of thanks for God's gifts, fear of something other than God, and hope in created things."
Be ever grateful for the goodness of the Lord. If He had chosen to be evil, none could have prevented it. But He is both good and holy. This is wisdom and it is very good. There is nothing to fear. But if you were to choose what to fear, fear God instead of anything else. That means do to do what God says and not to fail to do it because of unfounded fears.
- What A Folly!
Jesus said, "I am not incapable of raising the dead, but I am incapable of applying a remedy to the fool."
When a soul refuses to have knowledge and wisdom, it has loses its saltiness. You may take a horse to the stream, but you cannot force it to drink water.
- Too Bad
Jesus said, "Verily one of the greatest sins in God's eyes is that a servant [of His] should say 'God knows,' when he is ignorant."
It is bad to give what one does not have, just as it is madness to teach what one does not know. The wise man says, "I don't know," to what he does not know, but the foolish man says, "I know the way," and misleads ignorant multitudes. It is even more surprising that many ministers of God are like that. However, I do not blame them for not knowing the truth, but I advise them to learn the truth lest they be ejected into the hell fire.
- The Way Of Wisdom
Jesus, son of Mary , said, "The world consists of three days: yesterday which has passed, from which you have nothing in your hand; to-morrow of which you do not know whether you will reach it or not; and to-day in which you are, so avail yourself of it."
Physically, you can neither recall the past ages, nor live the future now. Therefore, be concerned with today only. Do not worry.
Spiritually, you can recall the past, pre-live the future now, but the wisest is the man who does not trouble himself with so much. He attends to things one after the other. By the time you know it he has finished all, because he avoids idleness and irrelevancies.
- Repent Now
Jesus said, "The recollection of the eternity of those who live for ever rends the hearts of those who fear God."
The recollection of the eternity of those who do not know or love God rends the hearts of those who know and love God. Nobody wants suffering. Then, why are many heedlessly rushing to hell fire?
- Avoid Spiritual Indolence.
The Messiah said, "O company of the disciples, how many lamps has the wind put out, and how many worshippers has self-conceit spoiled!"
Majority of humanity have not attained life in spirit and in truth, because they have not earnestly sought for it. Many are being misled by their self-righteousness.
- Continue To Do Good.
Jesus said to John [the Baptist] , "When a man admonishes you about something and says concerning you what is true, thank God; and if it is false, increase your thanks, for it flourishes in the register of your good deeds and you are at rest."
Do not miss opportunities to do good. If you do so, you miss the opportunity to multiply your blessings and increase your heavenly accounts.
- Receive Them.
Jesus said, "God sent this revelation to the world, whoever serves Me, serve him, and whoever serves you, take him as your servant."
Whoever serves a minister is serving God. Therefore, welcome the services of those who humble themselves to serve you so that they can grow quickly in spirit. When children of God come to you, welcome them. And when they leave you, bless them and hand them over to the Holy Spirit, who is everywhere. A wise one will delight to do this.
- Be Honest.
Al Bokhārī related on the authority of Abū Huraira that the prophet Mohammad said: Jesus, son of Mary, saw a man stealing and said to him, "Are you stealing?" He replied, "By no means! [I swear] by Him than whom there is no God!" Then Jesus said, "You believe in God, and you have accused my eye of falsehood!"
Many are fond of telling lies. This is hypocrisy. It is better to tell the truth and people laugh at you, than to gain honour by concealing things. Blessed is the person who is mocked for saying the truth, for in heaven seven Angels defend him before the Almighty. This is real honour.
- The Way Of Wisdom
The Messiah said, "What is the forbearance of him who has not been patient with foolishness, and what is the strength of him who has not repelled anger, and what is the worship of him who has not been humble towards his Lord? The worship of the foolish is the coming at the wrong time and the sitting beyond what is decreed; but when necessity arises counsel disappears."
Be patient with the foolish ones. Attain self-control, and you would find yourself on the mountain top. It is foolishness to say or believe that God does not exist. Wisdom consists in doing the right thing, at the right time and at the right place. Accustom yourself to this, and when necessity arises counsel shall abound.
- The Better Way
Jesus said, "If you bear with one word from a foolish man you will profit tenfold."
Patience and tolerance profit manifold.
- Being Born Again
There has been handed down from Jesus, "He who has not been born twice shall not enter the kingdom of heaven."
The children leave the house to play outside. When they return in the evening, their parents give them bath and put new dresses on them. You were born once when you came forth from God. After many years of separation and other experiences, you must be restored to the former glory. Your earthly parents gave birth to your body (flesh) only. Your spirit came from God. For you to return to God, your spirit must be renewed with baptism of water, Holy Spirit, fire and blood.
- Cultivate Virtues.
It is related concerning Jesus that he said, "Verily God (Exalted is He!) hates him who laughs immoderately without reason, and him who walks about without an aim, and talk which comes between jesting and facetiousness."
Avoid these things. They are the deceptive ways of the Devil.
- Dwell In The Presence Of God.
The upright Jesus has said, "Every man's heart is where his wealth is; so place your wealth in heaven that your hearts may be in heaven."
And wherever your heart is, there yourself are, for spirit move at will, by intention and attention. Let God be your treasure, and you shall always dwell in His presence.
- Follow Saintly Ways.
Jesus gave the following injunction to one of his companions, "Fast from the world, and do not cease from your fast till you die, and be like him who treats his sore with medicine out of fear that it may become worse to him. And occupy yourself much with the thought of death; for death brings good to the believer with no evil after it, but evil to the wicked with no good after it."
To fast from the world means to keep away from worldly ways. Good leads to everlasting life, but evil brings everlasting doom.
- You Are Not An Ophan.
From the book of Interpretations [or, Biographies] [we are told] that Jesus said, "Associate with people in such a way that if you live they may long for you, and if you die they may weep for you."
The best way is for you to become a living saint. However, they need not weep for a saint, who happily goes home, heavenwards. They may weep because you are no longer there with them. But they need not fear because the Holy Spirit is always with them, even as the sunlight fills the horizon.
- Be Among The Best Man.
A man asked Jesus "Who is the best of men?" Then he took two handfuls of earth and said, "Which of these two is the better? Men were created from earth, so the most honourable of them is the most God-fearing of them."
To fear God simply means to love and obey God, for in the heavens, there is no fear, and there is no need of fear. Fear is man-made.
- Become One With God.
lt is related on the authority of Ibrāhīm, son of Adham, that Jesus said, "The honour of a believer with God is that he should say to a mountain, 'Move,' then it should move."
Become one with God, just as a drop of water rejoins the ocean and becomes one with the ocean. Then the drop can use the mighty powers of the ocean. You become one with God by worshipping God in spirit and in truth.
- Value The Gifts Of Holy Spirit.
It is related on the authority of Ma`rūf al Karkhī that Jesus said, "Remember cotton when it is put over your eyes."
The Holy Spirit is the spirit of truth, the spirit of prophecy and the spirit of righteousness. No wise man would loose the gifts of Holy Spirit.
- You Must Be Born Again.
A saying of Jesus, son of Mary, "O, Children of Israel, verily I say unto you, he who has not been born twice will not see the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. By God, verily we are of those who have been born twice. The first birth is the birth of nature, and the second birth is the birth of the spirit in the heaven of knowledge."
The children leave the house to play outside. When they return in the evening, their parents give them bath and put new dresses on them. You were born once when you came forth from God. After many years of separation and other experiences, you must be restored to the former glory. Your earthly parents gave birth to your body (flesh) only. Your spirit came from God. For you to return to God, your spirit must be renewed with baptism of water, Holy Spirit, fire and blood. Birth of the Holy Spirit is the hearing and doing (knowledge) of the word of God, which is the way, the truth and the life.
- Depend Only On God.
Sufyān al Thaurī used to say: "A man said to Jesus, son of Mary, "Give me some advice." He replied, "Consider where your bread comes from."
Your bread and life come from God. Therefore, He is the one you should trust in and depend on. All the other usefuls are tools in His hands.
- True Worship
It is related on the authority of Sālim, son of Abu al Ja`d, that Jesus said, "Blessed is he who weeps for his sin, and who stores away his tongue, and whose house contains him."
It is enough to weep for your sin by repenting from them, for if you weep without true repentance, then your weeping is of no use. Control your tongue by silence, speaking only when it is necessary and saying what is worthwhile. Let your house contain you in silence, solitude and meditation.
- It Is Not Enough To Believe.
There is handed down from Jesus, "The wise are of three kinds: he who knows God and God's command, he who knows God and does not know God's command, and he who knows God's command and does not know God."
Those who know God and God's command are those who know God and worship Him in spirit and in truth. They are very few, indeed.
Those who know God and does not know God's command are the evil spirits, who know God but refuse to obey the word of God for the good of their own souls. Many join this group without knowing it.
And Those who know God's command and does not know God are those who know there is God but misinterpret His words because they have not experienced the spirit, which is the spirit of truth. They are in the majority.
- The World Is God's Own School.
Jesus said: The world is a place of transition, full of examples; be pilgrims therein, and take warning by the traces of those that have gone before.
The world is God's own school. It is a castle of illusion, which is necessary for a while. It is meant to teach by experience, which is the best teacher. A wise man would not lay up treasures in it, but use it to lay up treasures in heaven.
- Practise Detachment.
Jesus said: Be in the midst, yet walk on one side. [This is variously interpreted. Some say it means, Be in the world, yet let thy heart be in heaven; the context, however, in which it is quoted deals with cases in which it is necessary to avow friendship while concealing enmity.]
Live in the world, and do not cling to it... To avow friendship while concealing enmity is the worst form of hypocrisy and an abomination unto the Lord. Whosoever that practises such should retrace his steps.
- Be As Wise As Serpent And As Innocent As Dove.
In the sermons of Jesus, son of Mary, it is written: Beware how you sit with sinners.
You may sit and eat with sinners, but do not allow them to draw you into their evil ways.
- The Right Way
God revealed unto Jesus: Command the children of Israel that they enter not my house save with pure hearts, and humble eyes, and clean hands; for I will not answer any one of them against whom any has a complaint.
This is righteousness.
- Attend To Every Visitor As Though He Were Angel.
Jesus said: If a man send away a beggar empty from his house, the angels will not visit that house for seven nights.
This is true. He who sends away a beggar empty sends the Angels away with dishonour, for every beggar has many Angels in his train. Blessed is he who sends away a beggar empty-handed because he has nothing to give. God knows the truth and does not condemn the innocent. However, more blessed is a beggar who gives a little to a house because the beggar has more than the house.
- Beware Of Fabrication!
When Jesus was asked, How art thou this morning? he would answer, Unable to forestall what I hope, or to put off what I fear, bound by my works, with all my good in another's hand. There is no poor man poorer than I.
This is not true.
- Practise Detachment.
Blessed is he who sees with his heart but whose heart is not in what he sees.
This is life and freedom. You regret loss because you think that your life and honour are in what you have. You become disappointed because you think that by the disappointment all hope is lost. You become angry because you think that your expectations (desires) are not meant as and when due. All because you think so (you placed your heart on it and in it.) Therefore, when they fail, you think that you fail.
Begin to see yourself as what it is: a spirit, which is life and independent of created things, though it uses and appreciates created things.