Rabban Yochanan Ben Zakkai was one of the geat hero's of the Jewish faith. He was instrumental in the survival of Judaism after the fall of the Second Temple. Jewish legend proclaims that he was alloted the full 120 years of life. (Gen 6:3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.) Rabbinic Judaism owes much to this man and yet for all his greatness, in his testimony he is seen as a man who is unsure. As believers in Y'shua we may not be remembered as positively as Rabban Yochanan Ben Zakkai, but we don't live in the place that such a testimony as you are about to see comes from:
The Talmud relates that Rabban Yochanan Ben Zakkai was once sick, and disciples began to visit him. Upon seeing them he began to weep. The disciples asked why whereupon the rabbi replied, “ If they were only bringing me before a mortal king. Today he is here and tomorrow he is in the grave. If he becomes angry at me it is only temporary. If he kills me, it is not a permanent death. I might be able to win him over with words or to bribe him. But still I would weep. But now I am being brought before G-D, the King of Kings. He lives in eternity, and if HE becomes angry at me, it is an eternal anger. If HE imprisons me it is an eternal imprisonment. If HE kills me it is an eternal death. There is no way to win HIM over with words or to bribe HIM. Not only that, but before me are two paths: One to hell and the other to paradise, I do not know upon which I will be taken. Why shouldn't I cry?”
The Talmud relates that Rabban Yochanan Ben Zakkai was once sick, and disciples began to visit him. Upon seeing them he began to weep. The disciples asked why whereupon the rabbi replied, “ If they were only bringing me before a mortal king. Today he is here and tomorrow he is in the grave. If he becomes angry at me it is only temporary. If he kills me, it is not a permanent death. I might be able to win him over with words or to bribe him. But still I would weep. But now I am being brought before G-D, the King of Kings. He lives in eternity, and if HE becomes angry at me, it is an eternal anger. If HE imprisons me it is an eternal imprisonment. If HE kills me it is an eternal death. There is no way to win HIM over with words or to bribe HIM. Not only that, but before me are two paths: One to hell and the other to paradise, I do not know upon which I will be taken. Why shouldn't I cry?”
