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I'm not 100% Venda
Politicians such as former President Thabo Mbeki or Winnie Madikizela Mandela have complained, according to South African media, about the increasing tribal affiliation among South Africans.
The fight against apartheid was also expressed in the fight against the attachment to their own ethnic group. Like many other countries, South Africa is made up of many different ethnic groups, even though only eleven of them are officially recognized. There are eleven different national languages in South Africa: Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Swati, Xhosa, Zulu, Pedi, Sotho, Tswanga, Tsonga and Venda. Other languages spoken include Greek, Portuguese, Khosa, Italian and Mandarin.
On many cars you will find stickers for some time, which can assign the driver to an ethnic group. "I am 100% Venda", "100% Zulu-Takalani Musekwa boy", "I am 100% Tsanwa" etc. Even though these labels are an honest attempt to define one's identity in a multinational state, they are complete mislead. My native language is Venda, but I'm not 100% Venda. Native language and identity can not be set equal. A Chinese who was born and raised in London and speaks only English is not necessarily an Englishman. Simon Vander Stel, a man from the Netherlands who works in the 17. Was moved to Cape Town and became the first governor of the Cape region, was not Dutch. He was the grandson of a free Indian slave woman and a Dutchman. No one is 100% of anything. We are only 100% human.
How is it with Jesus?
Was he 100% Jewish? No, it wasn't. In his family tree there are some women who were not Israelites. I am fascinated that two of the four Gospel writers chose to give a detailed account of the tribal origins of Jesus Christ. Did you try to prove something? Matthew begins his text by listing the descent all the way to Abraham. I suspect it was his attempt to prove that Jesus is the one who fulfills the promises made to Abraham. Paul writes to the Galatians, who were non-Jews: “Here there is neither Jew nor Greek, here is neither slave nor free, here is neither man nor woman; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. But if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's sons and heirs according to the promise ”(Galatians 3: 28-29). He says that everyone who belongs to Christ is also a child of Abraham and an heir according to the promise. But what promise is Paul talking about here? The promise was that all ethnic groups would be blessed by God through the seed of Abraham. It is also reported in the Book of Moses: “I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse those who curse you; and in you all peoples on earth shall be blessed "(1. (Moses 12, 3). Paul also emphasized this in his letter to the church in Galatia: “Have you learned so much in vain? If it was in vain! He who offers you the Spirit and does such deeds among you, does he do it by works of the law or by preaching about faith? So it was with Abraham: "He believed God and it was counted to him in righteousness" (1. Moses 15: 6). Know, therefore, that those who are of faith are the children of Abraham. But the scriptures foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith. Therefore she announced to Abraham (1. Genesis 12:3: "In you all the Gentiles shall be blessed." So those who are of faith will be blessed along with the believing Abraham" (Galatians 3:4-9). So Matthew was not trying to prove that that Jesus is 100% Jewish, because Paul also writes: “not all are Israelites who come from Israel” (Romans 9:6).
All humans are from the same tribe
Luke's genealogy goes even deeper into the story and therefore tells of another facet of Jesus. Luke writes that Adam is a direct ancestor of Jesus. Jesus was a son of Adam who was the Son of God (Luke 3:38). All humanity descends from this Adam, the Son of God. Luke continues his remarks in the Acts of the Apostles: “And he made the whole human race out of one man so that they dwell in all the earth, and he stipulated how long they should exist and within what limits they should dwell so that they could become God should look to see whether they can feel and find him; and indeed, he is not far from any of us. For in him we live, weave and are; as some of your poets have said to you: We are of his race. Since we are now of divine sex, we should not think that the deity is like the golden, silver and stone images made by human art and thought. It is true that God overlooked the time of ignorance; but now he commands men that all repent of all ends ”(Acts 17: 26-30). The message that Luke wanted to pass on was that Jesus is rooted in the tribe of mankind, just as we are. God created all nations, races and tribes from one man: Adam. He wanted that not only the Jews but all peoples of all nations would search for him. This is the Christmas story. It is the story of the one God sent that all the nations might be blessed: “that he saved us from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, and showed mercy to our fathers, remembering his holy covenant and on the oath he swore to our father Abraham to give us ”(Luke 1,71-73).
Luke gives even more details about the birth of Jesus. He tells of angels who show shepherds the way through the fields to the birthplace of Jesus: “And the angel said to them: Do not be afraid! Behold, I bring you good news of great joy, which will be to all people; for to you today the Savior is born, who is the Lord Christ, in the city of David. And that is a sign: you will find the child wrapped in diapers and lying in a crib. And immediately there was with the angel the multitude of the heavenly hosts, who praised God and said: Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth to the people of his good will ”(Luke 2,10-14).
The Christmas news, the birth of Jesus, is a joyful news that applies to all people of all nations. It is a message of peace for Jews and non-Jews: “What do we say now? Do we Jews have any preference? Nothing. For we have just proved that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin” (Romans 3:9). And further: “There is no difference here between Jews and Greeks; the same Lord is over all, rich to all who call upon him” (Romans 10:12). “For he is our peace, who has made both into one and has broken down the fence that stood between them, namely hostility” (Ephesians 2:14). There is no reason for xenophobia, for 100%ism or for war. During World War I, the Allies and the Germans understood the message of Christmas. They laid down their weapons for a day and spent time together. Unfortunately, the war resumed immediately afterwards. However, it doesn't have to be that way for you. Realize that you are % human.
I hope that you will see people as you have never seen them before: “That is why from now on we no longer know anyone after the flesh; and even if we knew Christ according to the flesh, we no longer know him that way ”(2. Corinthians 5:16).
by Takalani Musekwa
