(12/16/2015) Jesus Under Judgment?

The attitude, authority, and behavior of Christ during his arrest, trial and crucifixion are topics, today.  The holy writings come to us as a partial record that does not detail and document all the aspects of culture and process used for communication and exchange in ancient times.  We know that values of their day also included ideas we now count as self-contradicting (e.g., preferring the end of a matter to its beginning; asking the best question gains more praise than making the best answer).  The Lord’s manner and way of working was as much a product of the flesh and of the times, as of fixed divine process for life and salvation.  Divine wrath against the sins of Israel had closed both the door of consecrated priesthood, and that of anointed prophets.  The nation became spiritually stagnant, grounded in ceremonial law, customs, and tradition.  The Lord was challenged to demonstrate humility, simplicity, thoroughness, and transparency (we say, openness) as well as divine restraint.  The language, method, and process of divine spokesperson (we say, prophet) had not appeared for more than 400 years (i.e., since Malachi).  Also, as the Son of David, Christ was to reconstitute the priesthood that had been defiled and tainted since the reign of Saul through the divine curse upon Eli and his sons.  While the ministry of Jesus was to benefit all upon the entire earth, only those chosen and elect, who would apprehend prophecy through Spirit, would be able to receive him as more than a simple rabbi from Galilee.  Consider again the Scriptures, and the points shared below:  Mark 15:  37-41, New International Version (NIV):  37 Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him.  38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:  “Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”  39 For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:  40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them.”  41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.  Also, John 1:  9-13, NIV:  9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.  10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.  11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.  12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.  Luke 8:  10, NIV:  10 He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, “‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’  Mark 6:  4-5, NIV:  4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.”  5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.  A fighter at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “abdul” (Level 1 with no points shown, a member since May 12, 2015) posted the following:


Why did Jesus seem to evasively answered the high priest?

Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.” When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded. “If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?” - John 18:19-23, New International Version

Update:  Some say it was Judas who was on trial. Muslims believe that Judas' appearance and voice were altered by God to resemble Jesus'. Judas cannot preach what Jesus used to preach. If it was Jesus on trial, Jesus would seize this opportunity to preach them the words of the Lord.


THE GOLDEN ARROW:  By oppression and judgment he was taken away.  Yet who of his generation protested?  For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished.  He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.  Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.  After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.  Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death,  and was numbered with the transgressors.  For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.  (Isaiah 53:  8-12, NIV)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Jesus Given A Divine Ministry? (08/18/2015); An Eternal Plan and Process (07/05/2015); Christ the Son of David? (06/12/2015); Ark of the Covenant? (03/17/2015); The Needs of the Many? (03/08/2015); The Judges Who Condemned Jesus? (01/17/2014); About the Second Coming? (01/18/2014); Jesus Scourged (04/05/2014); Brothers, Not Equals (04/06/2014)


“abdul”, Christian believers are encouraged to recognize that the attitude and behavior the Savior displayed during his arrest, trial, and throughout his crucifixion was in accordance with prophecies written in the Scriptures as well as the sacred operations for continuing the revelation of GOD to created beings and living creatures in the earth.  The appearance of divinity using the form of flesh (we say, the Incarnation) was to accomplish eternal purposes on multiple levels of existence, through multiple levels of effect and impact.  Here are a number of points to consider that should be useful to avoid error and spiritual confusion:

(1.)  The ministry through parables was to allow hearers to realize the character and nature of their own inner spirit, and to arouse appetite as an aspect of spirit, rather than flesh.  As with the baptism by John, those among the hearers who were the elect of GOD were to be drawn to come forward, and then identify themselves by their actions and choices.

(2.)  The conduct of Jesus had to be recognizable as following a pattern and tradition determined by GOD, and displayed in the life and work of earlier prophets.  Thus, the way David deferred to Saul as the Lord’s anointed may be seen in the Savior’s response to Caiaphas.  Striking Jesus (punishment) before the trial formally begins is a corruption of lawful process as much as Saul unprovoked hurling a spear against David.

(3.)  The ministry of Jesus was also that of an high priest charged with responsibility for cleansing and healing the process of judgment in the earth.  Because a judge presiding over trial as an agent of Deity must be impartial and thorough, he is to apply both the law and the prophets.  Rather than condemnation, the divine goal of judgment is to be the expression of divine love and mercy; and only he who is without sin (like the law) may cast the first stone to carry out the death penalty.

(4.)  The High Priests and chiefs of the Sanhedrin council who insisted upon the death of Jesus, believed their role was to keep and restore the things originally given by GOD through Moses.  They depended upon conflicting reports, and most had never seen Jesus minister to the people, even  though he also assembled crowds there in Jerusalem, and within the Temple.  As Sadducees, they were committed to “demystifying” belief, and opposed teaching that spoke to angels, miracles, resurrection of the dead, or the existence of spirits.

(5.)  Jesus proclaimed a coming kingdom of GOD, and used  works to promote hope (we say, specific expectations), encourage repentance, and to nourish and stir existing faith.  The disciplines and sacred practices he used (e.g., baptism, covenant meal, exorcism, foot washing, preaching) were not new, and already were in place.  The Savior did not annul existing commandments, or complain against existing sacred law so much as he shifted emphasis, and insisted upon righteousness.

There are many other ideas that should be carefully considered, correctly comprehended, and made a part of ones full spiritual understanding.  (For example, (6.) King David was challenged to reunite the Ark of the Covenant with the Tabernacle, and relocate them both in Jerusalem where the monarch would have ready access to divine counsel through Urim and Thummim.  Just as King David established courses for service by the priests as well as liturgy and sacred music with other reforms for operations of the Tabernacle—that were to be applied in the Temple—Christ is to be seen renewing inheritance and priesthood granted to Adam, amplified through Moses, and perfected through gifts by the Holy Spirit.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.


THE BLACK PHOENIX 
Washington, DC

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