Rhetoric and Biblical Truth

Nathan Carter Johnson a 9th generation Tennessean, descendent of first landowners who settled in Middle Tennessee in the early 19th century, who is by trade a Professor of Moral Philosophy at New College Franklin in Franklin, holds a B.A. in English Literature and master’s degrees in Biblical Studies, Theological Studies, and Liberal Arts; currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Humanities, and teaches rhetoric to 11th graders, says it has become apparent that some of his students believe that we should not spend so much time studying rhetorical devices and tropes.

Either it’s a waste of time or, worse, it’s a form of manipulation and deceit. {Rhetoric as a Trinitarian Discipline}

For him it is

somewhat more surprising that so many of them feel that the time and attention spent learning about ethos, pathos, and rhetorical tropes is at its core a way of teaching them how to manipulate their audience. “Why can’t we simply speak the truth?” they ask. {Rhetoric as a Trinitarian Discipline}

Speaking the truth has become for many very difficult or not something to strive for. The majority of people prefer to please others and to keep to human ideas and teachings instead of choosing for following Biblical teachings. Lots of people also do not feel well when they would be seen as outsiders, and therefore they prefer to walk with the main stream.

Nathan Carter Johnson recognises that the Bible is a masterful piece of rhetoric, and says:

why rhetoric is an essential part of the school curriculum. We are a rhetoric-level Classical school, after all. And this is well received at the beginning of the year because, I suspect, it is all simply theory. But as my students have spent many hours practicing rhetoric and evaluating the rhetorical features of history’s greatest speeches, theory has collided with practice, and for some, their consciences are screaming at them. {Rhetoric as a Trinitarian Discipline}

The writer of the above mentioned article further writes:

Rhetoric is at its essence, to quote Quintilian, “the art of speaking well,” particularly in the context of persuasion. As Aristotle said, rhetoric is “the faculty of discovering in any particular case all the available means of persuasion.” But for many students, all this focus on “art” and “means of persuasion” is simply a deceptive way to cover up the truth. While this notion is misguided, I’m thankful they are voicing it, because it enables all of us to think more deeply about how to answer their question: Why can we not simply speak the truth? The answers to this reveal many things about the nature of truth, language, and our God. {Rhetoric as a Trinitarian Discipline}

In this day and ages of lots of fake news and false messages people often forget that certain groups of people have advantages not to tell the truth. As such for centuries the Roman Catholic Church told many lies making it easier for them to frighten people and to get more followers from them and more money.

Lots of institutions used their power for persuading common people to follow them and to become a member of their church.

Mr. Johnson agrees that there is no such thing as “neutral speech.”

To speak is to persuade. Even the simple statement, “I like lilies,” is an attempt to persuade one’s audience to believe this fact and to believe it for a specific reason. We cannot speak without selecting which information we want to say and which information we want to refrain from saying. We cannot speak without selecting how we want to speak: whether that is our tone of voice, our vocal modulation and inflection, the use of figures of speech, or how we string our words and sentences together. So the question is not whether we should use our speech to persuade, but whether we are using persuasion with honesty, integrity, and artistry: or, if you will, with Truth, Goodness, and Beauty. {Rhetoric as a Trinitarian Discipline}

We all should be fully aware that for many, to persuade by means of artistry seems like an attempt to cover up (or supplement) the truth because they don’t believe the truth is persuasive enough on its own. That idea made many people willing to give their own ideas more strength by calling themselves theologians, and even telling the world that ordinary people can not understand the Bible because it would be too complicated for them. People started believing their words and did not dare to question if God would ever make His Word so complicated that only studied people could understand it.

The reason why for many the Bible looks so difficult to understand and even seems to contradict itself at certain places is, because the false human doctrines made it so complicated eand by the first doctrine had to come a second, and then  a third and once more some other doctrines people just had to accept, so-called because they would not be able to understand it.

It are those human doctrines which made the Bible to complicated for many people; In case people would just take the words for what they say it would be So Easy!

When they would read “son fo God” and think “son of God” when it is written in the Scriptures already the main problem will be solved. But for many that seems too easy.

The danger of a good rhetorician is like a musician or any other theatrical performer who by his artistry can bring people into a different world, which is not always the world of truth, like Mr. Johnson wants us to believe. About a good rhetorician he says:

His artful speech ends up communicating truth in the way intended by God, because truth is meant to be embraced. His artful speech, by being more persuasive, leads the audience to embrace a truth they wouldn’t have if they were merely listening to someone speak accurate words. {Rhetoric as a Trinitarian Discipline}

He is forgetting the Bible can speak for itself and has the Words from God written in it. The Bible is the infallible Word of God Which always tells the Truth. And people should know that God is no liar. Often people also forget that God knows everything, whilst the prophets, Jesus and his disciples did not know everything; Jesus even did not know when he would return or when the End Times would be. In case he would be God, like so many want us to believe, than God would be lying and deceiving as well, because God also told us that no man can see God, whilst many have seen Jesus.

Those who claim to be Christian should be believing those Words of God Who says He is Only One (and not two or three) and take the warnings from God at heart:

“And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram and said unto him, “I am the Almighty God. Walk before Me, and be thou perfect.” (Ge 17:1 KJ21)

“”Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD.” (De 6:4 KJ21)

“”‘See now that I, even I, am He, and there is no god besides Me. I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal; neither is there any that can deliver out of My hand.” (De 32:39 KJ21)

“one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Eph 4:6 KJ21)

“Concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but One.” (1Co 8:4 KJ21)

“God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent. Hath He said, and shall He not do it? Or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good?” (Nu 23:19 KJ21)

“Once have I sworn by My holiness that I will not lie unto David.” (Ps 89:35 KJ21)

“in hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before the world began,” (Tit 1:2 KJ21)

“that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we, who have fled for refuge, might have strong consolation to lay hold upon the hope set before us.” (Heb 6:18 KJ21)

“And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent; for He is not a man, that He should repent.”” (1Sa 15:29 KJ21)

“And He said, “Thou canst not see My face, for there shall no man see Me and live.”” (Ex 33:20 KJ21)

“1  “Thou shalt not raise a false report. Put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness. 2 Thou shalt not follow the multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause, following many, to divert judgment. ….. 7 Keep thee far from a false matter, and the innocent and righteous slay thou not; for I will not justify the wicked. 8 And thou shalt take no bribe, for the bribe blindeth the wise and perverteth the words of the righteous. … And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect; and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth. ….. 20  “Behold, I send an angel before thee to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. 21 Have regard for him, and obey his voice. Provoke him not, for he will not pardon your transgressions, for My name is in him. 22 But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries. 23 For Mine angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites and the Hittites, and the Perizzites and the Canaanites, the Hivites and the Jebusites; and I will cut them off. 24 Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do according to their works; but thou shalt utterly overthrow them and quite break down their images. 25 And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and He shall bless thy bread and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee. 26 None shall cast their young nor be barren in thy land; the number of thy days I will fulfill. … 32 Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods. 33 They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against Me; for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee.”” (Ex 23:1-33 KJ21)

“No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him.” (Joh 1:18 KJ21)

“Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (1Ti 1:17 KJ21)

“who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto, whom no man hath seen nor can see, to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen.” (1Ti 6:16 KJ21)

Though no man can see God, does not mean He would not exist or would not have the Power to reach people so that they can come to see the Truth.

People should know that the decisions of Jehovah God are true and that God can be found by man if they are willing to hear His Word and to place it above the words of man.

“The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever; the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.” (Ps 19:9 KJ21)

“It is He that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers, who stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in,” (Isa 40:22 KJ21)

“For from the creation of the world the invisible things of Him are clearly seen, being understood through the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.” (Ro 1:20 KJ21)

“There are also celestial bodies and bodies terrestrial; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.” (1Co 15:40 KJ21)

“He that hath received His testimony hath set his seal to this: that God is true.” (Joh 3:33 KJ21)

“God forbid! Yea, let God be true, though every man a liar. As it is written: “That Thou mightest be justified in Thy sayings, and mightest overcome when Thou art judged.”” (Ro 3:4 KJ21)

“He that believeth in the Son of God hath the witness in himself; he that believeth not God hath made Him a liar, because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son.” (1Jo 5:10 KJ21)

It is that believe in the son of God which is so important but so many Trinitarians overlook. People namely have to believe that Jesus is the sent one from God and that he is God’s only begotten beloved son.

“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law,” (Ga 4:4 KJ21)

“And lo, a voice came from Heaven, saying, “THIS IS MY BELOVED SON, IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED.”” (Mt 3:17 KJ21)

“Jesus said unto them, “If God were your Father, ye would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of Myself, but He sent Me.” (Joh 8:42 KJ21)

Those words seem so simple and clear, though the majority of people who call themselves Christian do not want to accept those words and even go so far to say that people who believe those words are no Christians. Though some would agree to say

it is not enough to to see yourself as a cultural Christian; you should be a Christian by heart as well. {Being A Cultural Christian Is Not Enough}

Though that concept of being a Christian by heart might be different by those Trinitarians because for them, it is more important to keep to the human dogma’s instead of to the Biblical dogma. Strangely enough most of those Trinitarians would agree with the theorem

In the first place, being a Christian presupposes that you believe in God. And in fact, a Christian does not only believe in God, he or she also believes in God’s Son, Jesus Christ. {Being A Cultural Christian Is Not Enough}

Though at the same time they say:

“Jesus is God”

and

“Jesus is god the son”

something totally different than

“the son of God.”

Some Trinitarians say the Father and son are not equal personally, they say they are just equal in office, when they also say they are two persons but the same God. They forget how Jesus tells his disciples to Whom he is going and by Whom he can do things.

“17  But Jesus answered them, “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.” 18 Therefor the Jews sought the more to kill Him, because He not only had broken the Sabbath, but said also that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. 19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, “Verily, verily I say unto you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do; for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. 20 For the Father loveth the Son and showeth Him all things that He Himself doeth; and He will show Him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. 21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead and quickeneth them, even so the Son quickeneth whom He will. 22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son, 23 that all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father who hath sent Him. 24 Verily, verily I say unto you, he that heareth My Word and believeth in Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life. 25 “Verily, verily I say unto you, the hour is coming and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear shall live. 26 For as the Father hath life in Himself, so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself, 27 and hath given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. 28 Marvel not at this; for the hour is coming in which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice 29 and shall come forth—they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. 30 “I can of Mine own self do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I seek not Mine own will, but the will of the Father who hath sent Me.
31  If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true. 32 There is Another that beareth witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesseth of Me is true. 33 “Ye sent unto John, and he bore witness unto the truth. 34 But I receive not testimony from man, but these things I say, that ye might be saved. 35 He was a burning and a shining light, and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. 36 But I have greater witness than that of John; for the works which the Father hath given Me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of Me that the Father hath sent Me.” (Joh 5:17-36 KJ21)

“Jesus said unto them, “If God were your Father, ye would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of Myself, but He sent Me.” (Joh 8:42 KJ21)

“27 “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28  Ye have heard how I said unto you, ‘I go away and come again unto you.’ If ye loved Me, ye would rejoice because I said, ‘I go unto the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that when it is come to pass, ye might believe. 30 “Hereafter I will not talk much with you, for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in Me. 31 But that the world may know that I love the Father, as the Father gave Me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.” (Joh 14:27-31 KJ21)

“Jesus said unto her, “Touch Me not, for I am not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say unto them, ‘I ascend unto My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’”” (Joh 20:17 KJ21)

“But I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is the man, and the head of Christ is God.” (1Co 11:3 KJ21)

“Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more; and I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, which is New Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from My God, and I will write upon him My new name.” (Re 3:12 KJ21)

Mr.Johnson with many other Trinitarians want people to believe that artful speech is in fact truer than bland speech and truer that the black on white letters of Scriptures. We should check their speech with what those words tell us black on white and if it is consistent not with its message, but with the Bible message.

Truth’s telos is to be believed — and to bear fruit in virtue and worship, people should follow the Word of God and not that of man. We may not forget that The Bible can speak for itself and that it embodies within itself power and beauty, because Truth finds its source within the Pure Word of the Only One True God and not in the Trinity. In this way, the manner in which we speak must reflect the nature of Truth itself. Artful speech is truer because it embodies more than simple truth: It is Trinitarian.

People should come to see that there might be many roads, but no all leading to God. For sure Jesus is the way to God and not to himself. Jesus, his disciples and their followers are paving the road leading to God.

Be sure that when you are willing to look for the Truth, you shall not be alone. Many who love Christ are willing to strive for

Maintaining unity of Spirit in the bond of peace becoming one with God

Mr.Johnson knows that truth that does not reflect the beauty and goodness of God is important. Nut than it is important to know “Which God” one wants to honour.  One should not go for the “truth of man” that does present itself as worthy of admiration, but should go for God’s Truth.

A  truth that does not have moral weight, is hardly a truth worth telling.

Please let us always remember to have no gods besides the Only One True God, the Elohim Hashem Jehovah, and to keep to the Biblical Truth.

 

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Preceding

Not About The Name Of The Godhead Of Jesus

To find ways of Godly understanding

Fully God Or Only A Part Of God?

Daring to speak in multicultural environment

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Additional reading

1. Blindness in the Christian world
2. Christian in Christendom or in Christianity
3. Is Christianity a Greedy Religion?
4. Seeking and finding God
5. People Seeking for God 2 Human interpretations
6. People Seeking for God 4 Biblical terms
7. Sayings around God
8. Trinitarians making their proof for existence of God look ridiculous #4
9. Jahushua, Joshua, Jeshua or Jesus an Immanuel or God with us an incarnated God or a human being?
10. The sent one from God
11. Knowing Jesus Rabboni
12. Jesus son of God
13. Jesus Christ the Messiah
14. Seeing Jesus
15. Bible writings telling us there is only One True God
16. The way of looking at the Scriptures and the people in this world
17. The One Who divinely inspired the writers of the Bible can also preserve it
18. Bible exceptional Book of books where nothing can be taken away or added
19. Do you believe what Christ’s Apostles taught?
20. With the Bible, honour should be given to God and not to people
21. Jesus and God
22. Knowing God
23. A Father Who begat a son
24. Sayings of Jesus, what to believe and being or not of the devil
25. Jesus begotten Son of God #19 Compromising fact
26. On the Nature of Christ
27. Entrance of a king to question our position #1 Coming in the Name of the Lord
28. Entrance of a king to question our position #2 Who do we want to see and to be
29. The Son can do nothing of his own accord
30. God of gods (Relating to God)
31. God of gods
32. Real God
33. Only One God
34. God the Father
35. Greatness of God
36. Uniqueness of God
37. Looking for answers on the question Is there a God #2 Pantheon of gods and celebrations
38. Have no other gods besides Me
39. Today’s thought “nonsense surrounding the many gods” (July 28)
40. Trinity
41. Trinity matter
42. Trinity – the Truth about God
43. Trinity – history
44. Constantine a brutal sociopath getting the believers in a God man on his side and creating a Christian church
45. Behind a False doctrine – the Trinity
46. The Biblical contradiction of the Trinity creed
47. Babylon, counterfeit Church
48. Going away from Babylon
49. Jehovah God Almighty greater than all gods
50. The Almighty Lord God of gods King above all gods
51. Believe in One God
52. Jehovah Host of hosts
53. A 1st reply to the 4th Question Who is God 2 A Singular Supreme Spirit Being
54. Today’s thought “No silence so that everyone will know that there is only one Supreme Ruler all over the earth” (February 17)
55. Omniscient God opposite a not knowing Jesus
56. A god who gave his people commandments and laws he knew they never could keep to it
57. The “I am” statement
58. Concerning the saying: I and the Father are one
59. A way to look for Christ, the Bible, Word of God
60. Believe in One God
61. God’s Self-Revelation
62. God is one
63. Attributes to God
64. Character of God
65. Doctrine of Christ
66. Focussing on oneness with Jesus like Jesus is one with God
67. Reasons that Jesus is Not God
68. God son king and his subjects
69. Not saying Jeshua is God
70. One in God’s Hand
71. Ambassadors for our faith in Jeshua
72. Genuine Christians content with going through motions of ritualistic religion
73. From nothingness to a growing group of followers of Jeshua 5 What’s in a name
74. Difference between a Messianic Gentile, a Messianic Jew and a Christian
75. Jews and Christians against Messianics and Jeshuaists
76. Judaism and Jeshuaism a religion of the future
77. Today’s Thought “The servant, His chosen one, whom God supports and in whom God takes pleasure.” (June 18)
78. Today’s Thought “To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like? ” (June 22)
79. Additional verses to memorize Philippians 2:6-9 + Luke 22:42 Jesus not regarding equality with God
80. TD Jakes Breaks Down the Trinity, Addresses Being Called a ‘Heretic’
81. False teachers and false prophets still around
82. Faith – Concerning Faith and the Gospel
83. Hardships for choosing to follow the real Christ
84. One Mediator
85. Commandements of Christ
86. Christianity without the Trinity
87. Worshipping God
88. Attitude of a Christian
89. Nurturing a Close Relationship with God
90. Relationship with God, Jesus and each other
91. Abiding in God’s Love

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Further related

1. “The Trinity and Missions” John 20:19-23
2. Come To Me To Have Life
3. Being A Cultural Christian Is Not Enough
4. The Trinity
5. Tri-Unity
6. The Trinity Ain’t a Puzzle–It’s Life!
7. Why Every Christian Should Read Augustine’s Book on the Trinity
8. Tuesday Tea-ology, 12/08/20
9. #17 St Nicholas and Why I Accepted the Trinity
10. What Trinity are You Worshipping?
11. The Unholy Trinity
12. The Relationship Between Jesus and God the Father
13. Who Do You Say That I Am?
14. Baby Jesus Grew Up – Do You Hear the Voice Crying: Prepare the Way of the Lord?
15. Luke Chapter 3
16. Beloved Son
17. One With The Father
18. Always On Your Heart
19. No G-D But OneONE
20. Daily Service: ONE
21. One God
22. Day 134, “One God”
23. There’s Only One God”
24. ONE GOD
25. Good morning message: 1 Timothy 2:5-6
26. The Significance of One
27. The Mystery of One
28. Creator of All
29. November 29, 2020: God is the Living God
30. Deity Identified #1953
31. Why are only Christians acceptable to God -1505a
32. One God: Supreme, Eternal, Transcendent, Universal, Immanent
33. Debunked – One god in Catholic theology
34. Tell me nothing but the truth – Part 1
35. A Trinitarian Christian claims he can explain the trinity…guess what happens next?
36. Proof that the desciples did not preach the trinity!

Tending to develop a genuine confidence in our Higher Power

In the times of our deepest pain,
the assurance of God’s presence can provide comfort, a comfort that without our knowing commensurate with current and past pain.

He is All-Knowing.

The great thing is even in our moments of desperation,

we tend to develop a genuine confidence in our Higher Power,

certain of His power to heal, to make things better.
– A. Michelle in For She Loved Much

Truth, doubt or blindness

The Jordan River and “Kfar-Hanasi” bridge (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

At a certain time in history, nearly two thousand years ago there was a man preaching in the dessert. The disciples of John reported of an other preacher leaving Capernaum going into a city called Nain with several of his disciples and a great crowd went with him. In that place were also disciples of that preacher in the desert, clothed in camel hair.
Those pupils may have been astonished by the great multitude this story teller could fetch. they also witnessed how this preacher drew near to the gate of the city when there was carried out one that was dead, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.  they witnessed how that preacher had compassion on her, and said unto her not to weep. Unbelievable it was to see how he came nigh and touched the bier and the bearers stood still. Having said that the young man had to ‘Arise’ they also witnessed with others in the city that this young man got up and began to speak. And he gave him back to his mother.  Seeing this they were not the only ones taken by fear. Many glorified God and said that a great prophet was arisen among them.

This report of the incredible event went forth concerning that preacher in the whole of Judea, and all the region round about. And the disciples of John the Baptist told him of all these things.  John having become curious about this miracle worker called unto him two of his disciples to sent to that man to ask him if he was the one the world was looking and waiting for.

This mural, painted on the interior of the John the Baptist Church at the Jordan River, depicts Jesus’ baptism by the hand of John. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

When the men were come unto him and said that John the Baptist had sent them unto him to ask if he was “he that cometh”, or if they had to look for another. that day they could see how in one hour he cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits; and on many that were blind he bestowed sight. The preacher and miracle-worker from Nazareth knew his member of family and told his disciples the things which they had seen and heard; the blind receiving their sight, the lame walking again, the lepers being cleansed, and the deaf hearing again but also the dead raised up, whilst everybody could hear him preach in the name of the Only One God. Rich or poor, all had good tidings preached to them. Though we know that many doubted and still many doubt today. Then as know there are still many who find enough occasion of stumbling in him.

When the messengers of John were departed, this miracle-worker with the name Jeshua (Jesus) began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, a man clothed in soft raiment. He asked the people around him what they went out to see. A prophet?

We are told that the preaching man in the dessert and baptising people in the river Jordan was much more than a prophet.  He is the one of whom it is written,

    Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, Who shall prepare thy way before thee

The people had a son of man spoken about in the old scrolls and now got to see an other son of man prophesied in the ancient Holy Writings. but who was willing to see what he did, hear what he said, and believe what he said? Then and now there are still many people who do not want to believe the words which were written down about that man who was lower than angels but made higher later on. Lots of people do forget that God is, was and always has been the Most High, and that it is Him Who gives and takes life. The Nazarene man who did those miracles never claimed to do them himself, but still today there are lots of people who want to believe that it was he himself who did it all and that he is the Most High God. They are the people Jesus is also talking about, the ones who do not want to believe the Words of God Himself Who ascribed His people, who said Who were His and who Jesus was. Though many could hear it when this son of man was standing in the river Jordan.

Luk 3:15-22 MKJV  And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts concerning John, lest perhaps he was the Christ,  (16)  John answered all, saying, I indeed baptize you with water, but He who is mightier than I comes, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to loose. He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire,  (17)  whose fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor and will gather the wheat into His storehouse. But He will burn the chaff with unquenchable fire.  (18)  And then indeed exhorting many things, he proclaimed the gospel to the people.  (19)  But Herod the tetrarch (being reproved by him on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done)  (20)  added still this above all, that he even shut John up in prison.  (21)  And it happened in the baptizing of all the people, Jesus also being baptized, and praying, and the heaven was opened.  (22)  And the Holy Spirit came down in a bodily shape, like a dove on Him. And a voice came from Heaven, which said, You are My Son, the Beloved; I am delighted in You.

After his baptism and his retreat of meditation in the dessert this son of man about Whom God had declared to be His beloved son, Jeshua (Jesus) like his cousin started preaching but went also into the villages and towns. this was when he was beginning to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) son of Joseph, son of of Heli.

Luk 7:11-35 MKJV  And it happened on the next day, He went into a city called Nain. And many of His disciples and a great crowd went with Him.  (12)  And drawing near the gate of the city, even behold, one having died was being carried out, an only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a considerable crowd of the city was with her.  (13)  And when the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, Do not weep.  (14)  And He came and touched the bier. And the ones who bore him stood still. And He said, Young man, I say to you, Arise!  (15)  And the one who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He delivered him to his mother.  (16)  And fear came on all. And they glorified God, saying, A great prophet has risen up among us; and, God has visited His people.  (17)  And this report of Him went out in all Judea, and in all the neighborhood.  (18)  And his disciples reported all these things to John.  (19)  And John, calling near a certain two of his disciples, sent them to Jesus, saying, Are You He that should come, or do we look for another?  (20)  And coming to Him, the men said, John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, Are You He who should come, or do we look for another?  (21)  And in the same hour He cured many of infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits. And He gave sight to many who were blind.  (22)  And answering, Jesus said to them, Go and tell John what you have seen and heard; that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the gospel is proclaimed to the poor.  (23)  And blessed is he who shall not be offended in Me.  (24)  And when the messengers of John had departed, He began to speak to the people concerning John. What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?  (25)  But what did you go out to see? A man clothed with soft clothing? Behold, those in splendid clothing and being in luxury are in kings’ palaces.  (26)  But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and much more than a prophet.  (27)  This is he of whom it is written, “Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who shall prepare Your way before You.”  (28)  For I say to you, Among those who are born of woman there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist. But he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.  (29)  And all the people and the tax-collectors who heard Him justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.  (30)  But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, not being baptized by him.  (31)  And the Lord said, To what then shall I compare the men of this generation? And to what are they like?  (32)  They are like children sitting in a market and calling to one another, and saying, We have played the flute to you, and you have not danced; we have mourned to you, and you did not weep.  (33)  For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, He has a demon.  (34)  The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, Behold a gluttonous man and a winebibber, a friend of tax-collectors and sinners!  (35)  But wisdom has been justified by all her children.

You may wonder if John was uncertain about Jesus’ identity. It is not clear that he knew the preacher to be spoken of to be Jeshua his cousin. If they would have told him his name he would have known more, but at that time the stories where still vague and very confusing, because people told about incredible things, like people standing up from the dead. Also for John the Baptist such stories should have sounded incredible and unbelievable.

Pastor Chris Linzey aks us to put ourselves in the shoes of that desert preacher John the Baptist.

It’s comforting to see that even a spiritual giant like John the Baptist can face uncertainty. John was uncertain about Jesus’ identity. Um, say what?!? Remember – John was the one who baptized Jesus! But put yourself in John’s sandals – after baptizing Jesus, John probably expected Jesus to come in power, drive out the Romans, and take charge as the true king of Israel. It was the expectation of all of the Jews that the Messiah would be this kind of savior. The crowds, the disciples, and even John didn’t expect this Messiah – one who came to save people eternally, not just politically. {When a Baptist Doubts Jesus…}

No wonder many dared to ask themselves if this son of man could perhaps be the one talked about in the prophesies they all so knew very well. Or should they keep looking?

In previous articles we have already spoken about the doubt and how much doubt can be accepted or tolerated and could be seen as something natural in our human constitution. Every time someone in the Bible expresses doubt, the doubt moves to faith after God responds.

The same is true here with John the Baptist. He is not condemned for questioning and expressing concerns about the Messiah. In fact, Jesus commends John!{When a Baptist Doubts Jesus…} John expressed concern and doubt and Jesus says there is none greater. Not bad, getting a compliment from the Messiah! But John came with a different purpose and function than Jesus. John came to prepare the way for the Messiah. Jesus affirms that he Is the Messiah. But people just won’t be pleased. {When a Baptist Doubts Jesus…}

Also today we do find people who do not want to accept that Jesus could really be a man doing God His Will. They think it to be impossible for any man to do God His Will. This is not only doubting man himself but also doubting God. Because it would indicate that God could not create a man able to follow His Wishes and keeping to His commandments He gave them. (That would also make this God in a very cruel God, putting Laws unto His creatures knowing that they can not keep to them and than terrorising them with the punishment of pain, continues suffering and death.)

When you look around you you might find lots of people who do not want to accept Jesus is really the son of man and the son of God, as the Bible tells us. Lots do not even want to accept he lived because they follow those who say Jesus is God and for them God does not exist so Jesus cannot have existed. Both are blinded by a wrong idea. The Christians who do not accept the manhood of Jesus, denying the Words of God Himself about His son, and ignoring the many remarks of Jesus about his position and relationship with his heavenly Father. And the atheists confusing with them two different characters, one a man of flesh and blood, being a historical figure and a biblical figure, whilst the other though also a biblical figure, not being a man of flesh and blood but being an eternal Spirit and Creator of heavens and earth.

For lots of people it does take a lot of time before they come to see things and it even takes much longer before they come to see the truth.

Pastor Chris Linzey is reminded of the Mark Twain quip:

When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years.

He writes:

Eventually kids come to recognize the wisdom of their parents. And time will show that Jesus is who and what he claims to be. Time will show that Jesus IS the Messiah. And with him comes the kingdom of God – here and now, breaking through to earth.

He also thinks about the song called “Give Me Faith” which says:

I need you to open my eyes And see that you’re shaping my life All I am, I surrender Give me faith

We only can ask God that He will open the eyes of many and shall show them who the one is about Whom He said that he is His beloved son. In the coming weeks we shall be reminded of the acts this young man did, giving his life, not for himself, not to please himself, not for doing his own will, but for doing the Will of God and out of love for all people. In case Jesus is God he naturally would always have done his own will and would have known that man nor death can do nothing to him. But not being God he had to trust his heavenly Father and had to believe all the promises of his ancestors. He also had to fully believe in the One who he thought to be the God of Abraham to be the Creator of heaven and earth, willing to accept his ransom offer.

No wonder Jesus sweated blood and water, because he too had moments of doubt and worried about what could happen to him. If he was God he would not have had to worry, because God knows everything, but he as man was in a total different position. He had not to lack faith. And that is important for us as well. We may also not lack faith like Jesus trusted his heavenly Father we too should trust our heavenly Father.

This week, examine the ways and areas of your life where you might lack faith (or have weak faith). – Pray that God would expand and increase your faith! {When a Baptist Doubts Jesus…}

Many who heard about the master teacher and his miracles doubted in those stories being true. Many came to look at him just out of curiosity. Lots of people found him very entertaining and were willing to follow him in the mountains to hear his stories and to see what he would do next. Having not television this was the reality show in pure real life time, with magic beyond human understanding. Bread and fishes multiplying like nothing. People standing up after years having paralysed or being so ill they could not do much. Many could see it but still did not believe it. Today we cannot see it but are we willing to believe it?

John came to prepare the way for the Messiah. Jesus affirms that he Is the Messiah. But people just won’t be pleased. {When a Baptist Doubts Jesus…} “To what then shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, “‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’ For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by all her children.”

The son of man of whom is said he is also the son of God, is given to humankind.  Lots is written about him. The most important things are able to be found in the Holy Scriptures, the Bible. What is written in there about this rabbi people should believe. Those words we should accept like they are written down for previous, our and next generations, to come to see. Let us see and hear and finally come to believe.

At the time of Jesus non-Jews also came to believe in him. Even a centurion, one of the Roman soldiers came to see Jesus.

This is not someone who is naturally part of “God’s people.” Clearly he is friendly towards the Jews. He knows Jewish elders and helped build the local synagogue. Yet he has a level of faith that puts God-believers to shame. Not only does he ask Jesus to heal a servant, he demonstrates an understanding of Jesus’ authority that everyone else around Jesus seems to miss. {Jesus Didn’t Really Do Miracles} It’s one thing for a local healer to put hands on someone and to say some words and to bring about a healing. Here the soldier is asking Jesus to demonstrate the impossible – a distance miracle. There is no touch involved (a common element in ancient healing rituals). But as the centurion understands military authority, he believes Jesus has the same spiritual authority. {Jesus Didn’t Really Do Miracles} In all of Jesus’ healing stories, the response of the crowd is to marvel and amaze at Jesus. Here, Jesus marvels at the centurion! This truly is incredible faith, and because of the faith Jesus delivers and the servant is healed. If Jesus can heal from a distance like this, what limit is there to his ability? {Jesus Didn’t Really Do Miracles}

We understand the way of thinking of many atheists and unbelievers. It all sounds incredible. But that means not that it would not be  credible. It would not be a miracle if it would normally could happen just like that.

Are we willing to believe the Bible? Are we willing to accept that God provided the world with some one who could speak in God His Name and honour Him perfectly? Are we willing to put our doubts away and see like Pontius Pilate an innocent man brought to the slaughter, being the king of the Jews but also the perfect ransom offer, God accepting him to become the king of many, also non-Jews?

Are we willing to belong perhaps to the those underdogs who Jesus calls lucky? Though the majority of the world does not want to believe in God nor in the one sent by God, do you want to believe in that sent one from God who came to tell the world about the Good News of the  Kingdom of God? Though he may change your ideas of who and what is important in the kingdom of God and may turn the table on the people who live their best life now, are you prepared to follow his teachings and not those of certain theologians or men who claim to be man of God, but are not notated as that in the Bible?

Are you willing to open your own eyes or to blindly follow the sayings and doctrines of man?

We should go for that preacher who told that the Spirit of Jehovah God was on him, because God has anointed him to bring good news to the poor and to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and freedom to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of God’s favour, and the day of our God’s vengeance; to comfort all who mourn.

Let us believe in that man sent from God who ave his body for the whole world, and restored the relationship between God and man. He now is the mediator between God and man, our intercessor in whom we should put all our hope.

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Preceding article: What is the truth asked also Pontius Pilate

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Read relevant articles:

1. Christ begotten through the power of the Holy Spirit
2. Jesus begotten Son of God #3 Messiah or Anointed one
3. Jesus begotten Son of God #6 Anointed Son of God, Adam and Abraham
4. Jesus begotten Son of God #11 Existence and Genesis Raising up
5. Jesus begotten Son of God #14 Beloved Preminent Son and Mediator originating in Mary
6. Jesus Messiah
7. Jesus and his God
8. Wishing to do the will of God
9. The high calling of God in Christ Jesus
10. On the Nature of Christ
11. Servant of his Father
12. Nazarene Commentary Matthew 3:13-17 – Jesus Declared God’s Son at His Baptism
13. Nazarene Commentary Mark 1:9-11 – An Approved Son Baptized
14. On the Nature of Christ
15. Jesus is the Son of God but Not God the Son
16. A voice cries out: context
17. Days of Nisan, Pesach, Pasach, Pascha and Easter
18. Servant for the truth of God
19. Science, scepticism, doubts and beliefs
20. Doubting and going astray
21. Looking at three “I am” s
22. Let me keep to “first importance” things
23. Faith is knowing there is an ocean because you have seen a brook.

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