Jesus Part 7. Stone Roller?

At first, Jesus' teachings were kept in an oral tradition, and decades later written by unknown persons. They were written after the fact, in Greek. In some cases, they were written hundreds of years later. Written by people who had not been present at the events. His followers, particularly ones distant in time are subject to exaggerations in the stories that are told about Jesus.

These well-meaning, but misguided persons attempted to "fill in" some of the missing details of Jesus' birth and death. They also made a common mistake of plagiarizing currently available, familiar texts for mysterious phenomena and details when their own imaginations ran thin.

Then, as now, there are all too many people in awe of the written word. They believe that if it is written it must be true. Even if it is a demonstrable falsehood, it must be true. At least spiritually inspired, if not true, and thus still acceptable, even Holy.

What about His Death and Resurrection? The best killers on the planet, the Roman military, made very sure that Christ died on the cross. John was the only gospel writer who was an eyewitness to the crucifixion of Jesus. John only says that Jesus said five words, "I thirst." and "It is finished." (John 19: 28-30).

That Jesus chose to feel the pain and die on the cross was His choice. It took the tremendous force of His free will to stay there on the cross and suffer and die. I believe that Jesus saw His mission as that of a martyr. That His death had to be believable to be effective. The Romans made His death very, very believable.

Christianity, as a religion, depends upon the theme of resurrection. This is the core of belief. A secondary idea is that Jesus died for our sins was added later.

I understand the "necessity", I think, for the martyrdom and resurrection of Jesus. To be used as an example to drag the Jews back to the "straight and narrow" of that faith. The Jews were, after all, Jesus' intended audience.

Someone obviously did not clearly understand the intransigence and iron willed determination of the leaders of organized religion. They were already in place and wanted to stay in power. They wanted to keep all things as they were, unchanged. Someone clearly underestimated the degree of resistance to new ideas by the leaders in the Sanhedrin. Was this an error by Jesus? Was this God's error? Was God reconsidering His "pro-active" stance?

John says that Jesus appeared in the flesh four times to His followers after His death. First, He appeared to Mary Magdalene at the tomb on the first day of the week. (John 20:17). Second, He appeared that same night in the midst of His followers despite the doors being closed and barred. At this time some disciples were absent, but for those present, He showed them His hands and His side. He also breathed on them. (John 20:20).

The third appearance was eight days later. Again He appeared in a closed room. The disciples are in hiding from the authorities. They might be next on the cross. This time, Thomas is present and touched His hands and His side. At this meeting, Jesus showed them many other unspecified signs. (John 20:30).

The fourth appearance is located by geography. Jesus appeared to His disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, where He helped them catch 153 large fish. These appearances, and others over a period of forty days, are used as examples of proof of life after death for a particular belief system.

After Jesus' departure from Earth, ascension from the Mount of Olives outside Jerusalem, (Acts 1:9-11) His message depended on word of mouth advertising for a very long time. Only the Greeks seem to have clearly understood the need for a written history.

The requirements for Jesus' Followers, which I find in what Jesus said, are: to love God. Love your neighbor. Repent of your sins. This means to stop your sinning and sin no more. Believe in God. That is a short, simple, four part, basic message.

If Jesus’ own disciples who knew Him, lived with Him, ate meals with Him, listened to Him, and walked the Earth with Him could doubt. I think I’m allowed my doubts. Thomas had to touch Jesus' wounds in order to believe. That is hard core disbelief.

I believe that Jesus returned to God, as do all souls.

Article Source: http://www.religionarticlelibrary.com

(c) Copyright 2006: George Wallace completed an MA and taught in the public schools for 28 years. He recently published a book on religion which lashes out at nearly all of the comfortable ideas about God, the trappings of organized religion, the layers of money sucking priesthood, and their departures from the fundamental ideas and messages of Religion. His pithy comments and suggestions for a return to a God-centered personal religion will outrage everyone. www.OhGodIsThatYou.com

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