The teachings of Jesus to clarify his divine purpose, sufferings and death as the promised Messiah are considered, today. Because the Savior’s ministry became known and was associated with feeding and healing the multitudes as well as promoting the causes of Jewish culture, political freedom and survival in seeming defiance of Rome, an atmosphere of secular celebration and pessimism began to appear among the Jews. By his proclamations of death, resurrection, and glorification, Jesus also promoted a consciousness that included bereavement, disappointment, sorrow, and uncertainty that even contended against the genuine expressions of sacred gratitude, joy, relief, and renewed confidence in divinity. The fighter at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Hannah J Paul” (Level 6 with 23,167 points, a member since April 09, 2006) posted the following:
Jehovah's Witnesses and other Christians: Did Jesus have difficulty explaining his approaching suffering and death?
Or did the disciples understand immediately?
Matthew 16:21
Matthew 17:22, 23
Matthew 20:17-19
THE GOLDEN ARROW: And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not. Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. (Luke 24: 17-27, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Jesus Given A Divine Ministry? (08/18/2015); Gall Refused on the Cross? (03/20/2015); Jesus Scourged (04/05/2014); Brothers, Not Equals (04/06/2014)
“Hannah J Paul”, may I share a few thoughts, and some Scripture points often overlooked regarding the revelation of Jesus to Israel as the promised Messiah:
(1.) That Messiah, who was held as the final and highest hope of Israel should suffer and die like a common person or criminal was not “impossible”, it was unthinkable. The awareness of the disciples had to be transformed to embrace truth upon a cosmic and exalted scale. Mark 8: 31-33, King James Version (KJV): 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.
(2.) Those who approached Jesus as the ruler from GOD who had been prophesied in the Hebrew Scriptures did so with carnal, material and social desires being uppermost. Messiah was to be a deliverer, a liberator, a king, and a warrior who would oust the foreign conquerors and oppressing empires, restore the patterns of ownership and divine distribution for the land as well as initiate a golden age of prosperity and wealth. Matthew 19: 27, KJV: 27 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
(3.) As the rule for life within the Temple community of Jesus’ day (that included the High Priest, the Sanhedrin court of 70 elders, priests, Levites, scribes, lawyers, currency exchange and money-changers as well as sellers of livestock for offerings, laypersons in dedication to GOD, and beggars), “the law and the prophets” had become an emphasis upon law without the prophets, for there had been no prophet from GOD in the tradition of Moses, Samuel, Elisha, and others until John the Baptist. The divine process surrounding prophets sent from GOD was suppressed for a period of more than 400 years. Zechariah 7: 11-12, KJV: 11 But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. 12 Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts.
(4.) Messiah was to fulfill divine proclamations, prophecy, and promises in the role of a servant, not as a master. Isaiah 53: 3-6, KJV: 3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
(5.) As with the system of atonement, offerings and sacrifices through the shedding of blood, the preeminent authority of prophecy and revelation would be sealed as consecrated and lawful through innocent blood. Acts 3: 22-23, KJV: 22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. 23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.
There is much more that could be said, and that must be correctly understood and spiritually taken into account. (For example, (6.) In addition to a ruler that would appear and serve as the agent of divinity for judgment, Messiah, like Moses, was to establish and serve by introducing a covenant and priesthood. Malachi 2: 3-9, KJV: 3 Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it. 4 And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts. 5 My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name. 6 The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity. 7 For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. 8 But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts. 9 Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.) Even so, I trust this collection of verses will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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