Maranatha – Part 1

Discipleship Devotional, May 8th, 2025

If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.
— 1st Corinthians 16:22 (KJV)

The word “maranatha” is an Aramaic word which speaks about the second coming of Christ. It was a word of encouragement that the early Christians used during their tough persecutions. It was a way of reminding themselves that the affliction and persecutions are only for a moment (2nd Cor 4:17). Though it was a common word in those days among believers, it was used only once in Scripture.

The word Anathema means “cursed” or “judgement,” and Maranatha spoke about the second coming. So essentially, the apostle Paul wasn’t necessarily placing a curse on anyone who doesn’t love Christ; he was actually stating a fact—that whoever doesn’t love the Lord (believe in Christ) is damned and doomed at the second coming of Christ. It’s the same thing as saying, “whosoever doesn’t believe in Christ shall be condemned.” Maranatha literally meant “come, Lord” or “the Lord is coming.” It was both a prayer for Christ to come quickly, and an encouragement to one another that Christ is coming.

It is evident then that the message of the second coming of Christ is not supposed to be a negative message for believers. It’s not supposed to scare believers. The only people who should be afraid of the second coming are those who have rejected the gospel of the first coming. This is because they are Anathema (cursed to be condemned) unless they believe.

However, in today’s age, many believers are enjoying the pleasures of this world so much that they can never contemplate crying Maranatha. In fact, the message of the second coming of Christ has become a scary message for some; this is partly because of how ministers have taught it and also partly because many Christians have developed an unhealthy love for this world, so they don’t want to leave.

The message of the second coming is a message that should bring comfort, not fright. Paul, speaking to the church at Thessalonica about the second coming, said they should “comfort one another” with it.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, help me not to lose focus in this world. Help me not to love this life more than You.