Today, focus is on what the Lord endured before the cross at the hands of those denying both his deity and humanity. As we are progressing to the annual Christian observance of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, acknowledging the passion and suffering of the Savior before his death and burial also require attention from mature believers. Acceptance of Jesus Christ as Redeemer and Savior will appear where sacred operations of faith, holiness, trust in GOD, and other aspects from the makeup of divinity are confirmed to be active and present by the holy writings, and through living relationships. The rejection of Jesus of Nazareth by all mankind as Messiah, Son of Man, and Son of GOD was accomplished by an unlikely pairing of the secular establishment (pictured in Pontius Pilate and Rome) and the religious establishment (pictured in Israel, the Sanhedrin, and the Temple at Jerusalem). While remembrance of those sacred events may arouse dormant feelings of fear, guilt, shame, and spiritual weakness, successfully passing through the peculiar snare of challenges, feelings, and negative thoughts that oppose a sinner’s commitment to the Lord can result in holy fruit. Like when limbs and boughs of a tree are pruned to produced more fruit, remembrance and godly sorrow within a believer should produce stronger faith. One of the many fighters at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Anonymous” (no profile information shared) posted the following:
Last night, Jesus appeared to me in a dream and told me the Romans sodomized him before the crucifixion. Was he actually sodomized?
THE GOLDEN ARROW: Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. (Acts 2: 22-32, King James Version, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: The Complete Divine Revelation? (03/10/2017); GOD Knowing the Price? (06/15/2016); To Foster Godly Sorrow (03/11/2016); Jesus Under Judgment? (12/16/2015); Messiah and the Unthinkable? (09/25/2015); Divine Knowledge of Human Hurt? (03/02/2015); Jesus Scourged (04/05/2014); Brothers, Not Equals (04/06/2014); The Judges Who Condemned Jesus? (01/17/2014); About the Second Coming? (01/18/2014)
“Anonymous”, the question you have posed is posted in some form on a daily basis in the Public Forum and here at “Yahoo! Answers.” Many Christian believers also continue to ask the same question (without using the insinuating, insulting, and suggestive language and wording). Knowing that popular culture portrays ancient Egyptian, Greek, Roman and heathen peoples as delighting in many sexual practices that join cruelty, physical violence, debasing and despising others, and methods to “break” a person’s spirit, it is “natural” to consider whether the Savior was subjected to such treatment before being executed on the cross.
For most Christians, the thought of Christ being sexually abused is hateful, loathsome and repugnant, therefore, such considerations and issues are quickly dismissed, rejected, and suppressed. However, young believers, “beginners” and those whose faith is still underdeveloped often become fascinated and fixed by what is believed a twisted, perhaps sick, and less productive focus. The “official” record Christians rely on reports that Jesus was physically struck, spat upon, forced to wear a crown of thorns, scourged and whipped, yet, indicate that the Lamb of GOD did not endure any corruption and defilement during his arrest, during his trial, upon the cross, or within the grave. This also includes defilement by fornication (i.e., impurity, pollution, and uncleanness of a person’s spirit content that can result through sexual joining).
Efforts were made while he was Incarnate on the earth, and are being made to this day while he is in the heaven as Risen Lord, that deny both the deity and the humanity of Jesus Christ. Christian believers are cautious when assigning value to (i.e., approving, reviewing, judging) such sources as motion pictures, novels, and secular history. A filmmaker shapes popular culture by delivering entertainment and products of imagination that may alter and distort the truth, however, believers are to be concerned with the sacred knowledge and spirit content a film may impart. One now important source, THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST by Mel Gibson, has portrayed the sacred events surrounding the crucifixion in a manner many believers accept as authentic. Even so, others feel the presentation of Christ being dehumanized is exaggerated and extreme. Critics include those who express disappointment because the film did not show explicit scenes of debauchery, fornication, and graphic cinema sexuality. In its place they found a shocking and sobering presentation of contempt, anti-Christ sentiment, and violence against Messianic belief. Thus, the “final analysis” and evaluation for Gibson’s film proclaimed among mature believers should be that from their role as prophets and spokespersons for divinity, rather than expressions of a believer’s individual faith, lusts, or products of secular knowledge, carnal reason, popular science, and technical excellence. Consider the following from the holy writings:
(1.) Matthew 15: 17-19, King James Version (KJV: 17 Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
(2.) Mark 8: 27-33, KJV: 27 And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am? 28 And they answered, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets. 29 And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ. 30 And he charged them that they should tell no man of him. 31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. 33 But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.
(3.) Luke 22: 19-22, KJV: 19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. 20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. 21 But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table. 22 And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!
(4.) John 19: 1-7, KJV: 1 Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him. 2 And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe, 3 And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands. 4 Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him. 5 Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man! 6 When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him. 7 The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.
(5.) Hebrews 7: 25-27, KJV: 25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. 26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. 28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.
There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (6.) Philippians 4: 8, KJV: 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
Washington, DC
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