ELLEN JOHNSON SIRLEAF: ARE YOU THE ONE WHO WAS TO COME?

By: James Kokulo Fasuekoi (November 16th 2005)  

The book of Matthew teaches Christians about the fascinating and miraculous powers of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. The book chronicled a long list of events, from healing the sick to raising the dead. Exasperated by the good news, some unbelievers and powerful Pharaohs eschewed the Son of Man for fear that he, Christ was an eminent threat to their rules and way of life.

In preparing his twelve apostles for their Godly journey to the various cities, Jesus cautioned his disciples: "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as
snake and as innocent as doves. Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles." (Matthews10: 16-18)

Accordingly, the divine record continues: to Matt. 11: 1-10, "After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee." (Matthews11: 1-10)

When John the Baptist heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples to ask him, "ARE YOU THE ONE WHO WAS TO COME, OR SHOULD WE EXPECT SOMEONE ELSE?"

In reply, Jesus said: "Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me."

The story goes on. As John's disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: "What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings' palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a
prophet."

The above Chapter tells us how life's journey for centuries has been shrouded by persistent critical thinking, questioning, and reasoning in search for answers to complex problems. Overtime, such curiosity has served as an impetus for human advancement. It gives mankind the zeal and ability to be able to see things not only the way they are; but also how they
could be.

Our pervasive search for answers to complex questions has led to the exploration of new horizons by mankind. As a result today, more than any other time in world history, we are better acquainted with our world than any our ancestors.

Not only does our concept of critical thinking, questioning and reasoning appraises issues relating to general or national interest, but also does apply to our personal lives. For example, before or after an exchange of vows between couples, somehow there comes a time, when onewill lonely mumble in reference to the other partner: ARE YOU THE ONE?

Life being muddled by uncertainty, we may never find an immediate or definite answer
and it makes our curiosity grow more and more. That uncertainty becomes persistently intoned till the unexpected happens.

Somewhere along the way, curiosity trickled our minds when a child is born. Being human, our faith is sometimes tested irrespective of religious creed whatsoever. As we marvel at that new born, deep down in our hearts, we soliloquize whether that child is here to stay or what the future holds for it. Hence the question: ARE YOU THE ONE?

During the recent Liberia’s presidential elections, the same anxiety weighed on the minds of many voters about their choice of candidate. Befuddled by such predicament, once upon a time, somewhere, someone may have paused to ask himself the same question: ARE YOU THE ONE OR ARE WE TO EXPECT SOME ONE ELSE?

Even when the former warlord and president, Charles Taylor and his band of rebels seized the border town of Butuo and announced the dawn of a "new day" in Liberia, the question remained: ARE YOU THE ONE? Thousands rejoiced at claims by the self proclaimed liberators who said they had come to free their "people" from the hands of a tyrant. Yearning for a
change at all cost, many began to question in reference to the "freedom fighters"
ARE YOU THE ONE THAT WERE TO COME OR ARE WE TO EXPECT ANOTHER

MESSIAH? It turned out they were freedom killers!

While our continued questioning, reasoning and searching may yield some results; we may never get genuine answers to the bulk of our complex problems. But one thing we, as a people know for certain is that our quest, couple with common human intelligence, often helps us better detect and prepare for what may happen.

It is in this light that we (Liberians) out of desperation are curiously asking: ARE YOU THE ONE WHO WAS TO COME, OR SHOULD WE EXPECTSOMEONE ELSE? The question may be asked hypothetically for the fact that nearlya decade and half, warlords and their followers reigned supreme turning a whole nation into an animal’s barn. Just as successive regimes came, so were successive failures. Even when an end to the quagmire seemed to be in
sight, the farther hopes became.

The entire country lay dormant in all the years brutes of all sorts contested for supremacy as they lavished the country's resources. None of the former factions can point to a "palava hut" as a case in point in terms of development under its rule - not to mention a farm to a market road. The country's capital, Monrovia became an eyesore when the battle for the last booties was over.

Liberia is like a wounded and abused child. Frightened and furious as a result of such abuses, she doesn't even know whom to trust. She’s unquestionably in need of a mother - a mother who is prepared to play the role of a twin mother. Yeala elders have this proverb: "the mother who bears a twin will have to lie face up" a position which logically would allow
her to breastfeed her babies at the same time.

Hence the question, ARE YOU THE ONE OR ARE WE TO EXPECTSOMEONE ELSE?

With torments suffered by the Liberian people, our prayers are going out for a true hero, a patriot, patient minded and a very tolerable person; one that will rule the wounded and divided country with gentleness. ARE YOU THE CHOSEN ONE? the one who has come to redeem us from total bondage caused by blood thirsty criminals who for decades enriched themselves with public funds and at the same time deprived others from benefiting from our God given natural resources? ARE YOU THE ONE OR ARE WE TO EXPECT ANOTHER MESSIAH?

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About the author:

James Fasuekoi is a Journalist and cultural Artist. Prior to the war, he worked for most of Liberia's leading independent dailies as reporter-photographer. He also worked as a stringer for The Associated press during the war. Mr. Fasuekoi presently resides at Whitehall, Pennsylvania.