BY MBONO MDLULI
LOBAMBA – It is important for Emaswati to know that forgiveness does not only happen when things are good, but it also happens when it is very painful.
These words were said by Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini today during the National Good Friday Services held at the premises of the National Church in Lobamba. Dlamini said this when he spoke with an intention of introducing Her Majesty the Indlovukazi to share the Word of God.
Dlamini said he had been listening to different clergymen and clergywomen preaching the Word of God and all of them did a sterling job. However, he was taken by the verse where Jesus asked God, his father, to forgive those who were crucifying him, because they did not know what they were doing.
“It is hard to imagine how a person could ask for that when he was in excruciating pain, with hands and feet bleeding. This told me that forgiveness should not only happen when things are in order, but it should happen event when a person is in deep pain,” Dlamini said.
The Premier further said it was important to pay attention to the fact that he said those who crucified him did not know what they were doing. He said those who crucified had asked a renowned Roman Judge Pontius Pilate to release Barabbas, a renowned prisoner so that Jesus could be crucified.
According to Dlamini, Pilate’s wife had a dream, which revealed to her that Jesus had not committed a crime. She told her husband to release Jesus, as he did nothing wrong. Dlamini said upon learning that the Jews wanted Jesus crucified and wanted Barabbas freed, he washed his hands and recused him from the case because he did not want to be held accountable for Jesus’s death.
Dlamini said despite all those circumstances, the Jews continued to crucify Jesus, event though they were told many times that he did nothing wrong. They did all these things because they did not know what they were doing, Dlamini narrarted. He then threw a challenge to every Liswati to ensure that they knew what they were doing, wherever they were.
Dlamini further thanked Her Majesty the Indlovukazi for always making sure that Good Friday services were held every year. He said this had a positive impact on Eswatini as a nation. For that reason, Dlamini wished Indlovukazi a long life filled with blessings.
