By: Obed Pineda
As the blessed Redeemer prepared His disciples for His departure through the cross, He used the following analogy: “A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for you that a human being has been born into the world” (John 16:21). The truth of this statement can be unequivocally validated by those blessed to be parents. Specifically, as the Master points out, by the mother who lives the experience of giving birth to her child. Yet, it is just not to ignore that although the father of the child is not actually giving birth to his child, it is still an intense emotional experience for him to witness his beloved wife give life and sustain her own simultaneously. During the labor his focus is solely on her, doing anything within his power to lend her his strength and support. However, once the wails of the newborn child fill the room, both parent’s focus shift from each other to the life they have created. Their hearts, once swollen by anguish and fear, now swell with inexplicable joy and hope. Indeed, the analogy used by the Savior to explain to His eleven (for Judas Iscariot had left earlier to betray the Lord, John 13:21-30) that His death was necessary for Him to resurrect and give birth to a new era of hope was certainly most appropriate. Very wisely, the Christ demonstrated to His chosen eleven that the Old Testament needed to cease so that the New Testament could begin. Jesus was holding in His blessed arms the hope a world shrouded in despair and apathy, desperately needed. It is amazing how the birth of a child has the power to transform any parent’s perspective from pessimism to optimism. In an instant, as the father holds his newborn in his arms, he envisions a brighter future. In that moment, the parent lays upon his son his hope for the future. A future that was now palpable because they did not shy away from the sacrifice that needed to be endured first. Poetically one can say that from misery, laughter was born and from agony, solace. Curiously, this sentiment is one expressed by a father who chose to literally name his son “rest.” Holy Writ promulgates, “Lamech lived one hundred and eighty-two years, and had a son. And he called his name Noah, saying, ‘This one will comfort us concerning our work and the toil of our hands, because of the ground which the Lord has cursed’” (Genesis 5:28-29, emphasis added). The similarity between the Lord’s analogy and Lamech’s choice in name are not coincidental. It is well known that Noah was a shadow of Jesus, for the apostle Peter expounds “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longesuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. There is also an atitype which now saves us – baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1st Peter 3:18-21, emphasis added). A terrible misinterpretation of this sacred Scripture that has been dispersed by false teachers is that Jesus literally descended into hell and preached to the lost souls. This, is irrefutably FALSE! Once more, the value of reading the entire text makes its presence felt. The Holy Spirit inspires His penmen to clarify that Jesus preached to those who were now imprisoned due to their “former disobedience.” He also further explains that Jesus did not descend Himself to preach, but did so through Noah, “while the ark was being prepared.” Remember that Holy Writ validates that the Lord God “did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly” (2nd Peter 2:5, emphasis added). This revelation by Holy Scripture links the Master’s explanation with Lamech’s name choice. It is imperative to note the condition of the world that Lamech lived in, when Noah was born to him. Before Jehovah God commands Noah to build an ark, the Bible manifests that “the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5, emphasis added). Although this passage exhibits the moral condition of mankind when Noah was alive, it is wise to comprehend that humanity progressed to this level of immorality. Observe that Lamech found hope in Noah because he lamented about “the ground which the Lord has cursed” (Genesis 5:29b). Verily, Lamech was not complaining against the Lord but instead was illuminating the consequence of sin. Paul concurs with Lamech for he tells, “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subject to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Romans 8:18-21, emphasis added). The apostle Paul, in this passage, is echoing God’s words to Adam, after he sinned, “Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life” (Genesis 3:17b, emphasis added). Lamech, too, was bringing to memory the results of man’s sin but saw redemption in his son Noah. This holy revelation mirrors the Lord’s promise “all things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:27-30, emphasis added). Notice that the Lord requires mankind to heed His word and follow His instruction to obtain rest. It is unwise to ignore the parallels between Noah and Jesus, for the antediluvian people needed to heed Noah’s words and instructions concerning the flood also if they wanted to be spared. Thus, Lamech’s words explaining the significance of his son’s name became true, for Noah truly gave rest to those who trusted him and entered the ark. A fact that is also undoubtedly true about Jesus for it was told to Joseph the carpenter, “she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21, emphasis added).