Footprints of Yukinaga Konishi


6. Succession of Faith (B)

Yukinaga must have considered that his personal savior Jesus was crucified. I think he was calm, giving thanks to the Lord because he could really feel that Jesus died on the cross for his sin.

He wrote the end of his will like this.
　　　"Now on, you serve God with all your ardor and from the bottom of your heart because
　　　everything of the world is easy to change and never last."

From this will, it was apparent that Yukinaga was seeing what belongs to this world but what belongs to God. Although Yukinaga was dead, Yukinaga’s subordinates, people of his territory and others who have seen his faith succeeded his faith.

And about 40 years later, in 1637, mainly people who succeeded Yukinaga’s faith, fought in the Shimabara war. For them, it was the fight to protect both their faith and life.

Following Words are written in the Bible.
　　　"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies,
　　　it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain."  (John 12:24)

The death of Yukinaga, who carried out his faith, encouraged the Christians who knew his faith, and many people were saved by his way of life. And he produced much grain.

Faith of Yukinaga tells us many things beyond time.




(The Kyoto Glory Church Translation Committee is responsible for the wording of this article.)

---

References
　「小西行長」　田村襄次　著
　「新編日本武将列伝 ６」　桑田忠親　著
　

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Back