Jesus Behaving Badly?
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JESUS BEHAVING BADLY?
JESUS BEHAVING BADLY?
EVERYONE LIKES JESUS
EVERYONE LIKES JESUS
I am a Jew, but I am enthralled by the luminous figure of the Nazarene. Albert Einstein
I am a Jew, but I am enthralled by the luminous figure of the Nazarene. Albert Einstein
I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ. Mahatma Gandhi
I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ. Mahatma Gandhi
How has Jesus Been Seen?
Jesus the Revolutionary Jesus the Magician Jesus the Cynic Sage
How has Jesus Been Seen?
Jesus the Revolutionary Jesus the Magician Jesus the Cynic Sage
1. Was Jesus a Revolutionary or a Pacifist?
1. Was Jesus a Revolutionary or a Pacifist?
Revolution at the Time of Jesus. Jesus comes on the heels of the Maccabean rebellion.
Revolution at the Time of Jesus. Jesus comes on the heels of the Maccabean rebellion.
Jesus miracles were counter-cultural.
Jesus miracles were counter-cultural.
Nature Miracles
Nature Miracles
Resuscitation Miracles
Resuscitation Miracles
Exorcisms
Exorcisms
Was Jesus a Revolutionary?
Was Jesus a Revolutionary?
Yes! But against whom was he revolting?
Yes! But against whom was he revolting?
2. Was Jesus an environmentalist or did he care nothing about the Earth?
2. Was Jesus an environmentalist or did he care nothing about the Earth?
2.A The incident with the pigs.
2.A The incident with the pigs.
They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes.
And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit.
He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain,
for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him.
Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones.
And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him.
And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.”
For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”
And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.”
And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country.
Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside,
and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.”
So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea.
Note the context of the miracle.
Note the context of the miracle.
Note the ethical considerations of the miracle.
Note the ethical considerations of the miracle.
Why might Jesus have done this?
Why might Jesus have done this?
Jesus may not have known.
Jesus may not have known.
“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.
Jesus didn’t kill the pigs. Satan is a Murderer.
Jesus didn’t kill the pigs. Satan is a Murderer.
You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
Matthew 24:
This shows the real war that was going on.
This shows the real war that was going on.
A person is more important than property.
A person is more important than property.
2.B The cursing of the fig-tree.
2.B The cursing of the fig-tree.
A person is more important than property.
A person is more important than property.
In the morning, as he was returning to the city, he became hungry.
And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered at once.
When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither at once?”
And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen.
And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”
Matthew
Note that Jesus acts here (unlike the pigs).
Note that Jesus acts here (unlike the pigs).
This is the only example of a destruction miracle.
This is the only example of a destruction miracle.
This is an example of what has come to be called a “Markan Sandwich.”
This is an example of what has come to be called a “Markan Sandwich.”
Fig-Trees are often symbols of judgement.
Fig-Trees are often symbols of judgement.
Woe is me! For I have become as when the summer fruit has been gathered, as when the grapes have been gleaned: there is no cluster to eat, no first-ripe fig that my soul desires.
Mic 7:1
and the fading flower of its glorious beauty, which is on the head of the rich valley, will be like a first-ripe fig before the summer: when someone sees it, he swallows it as soon as it is in his hand.
This fig-tree is a symbol of judgement.
This fig-tree is a symbol of judgement.
Why does Jesus do this?
Why does Jesus do this?