Jim Colyer
Nov 21st, 2008, 01:13 PM
Every time I return from Europe (which is three times), I get into religion. It happened again after Iceland. I found this book at Kroger's and read it, trying to make sense of God, Jesus and the Resurrection.
Who was Jesus? Was He both God and man? Were the miracles real? Is the Resurrection fact or fiction?
Jesus said, "I am the vine." He said, "I am the gate." He said, "I am the way, the truth and the life."
The life of Christ is told in four gospels. Mark's gospel came first. Mark knew Peter and wrote his gospel based on Peter's account. Peter was in Jesus' inner circle.
Mark's gospel influenced Matthew and Luke. Matthew was a disciple. Luke was Paul's physician. The first three gospels are similar. John emphasizes Jesus' deity.
The biographies of Jesus differ from modern biographies. Parts of Jesus' life are skimmed over or omitted. Matthew has ties with the Old Testament. Mark focuses on the last week of Jesus' life. Luke underscores His humanity. John presents Jesus as the preexistent Word made flesh.
Paul encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus. Paul's New Testament letters predate the gospels. He attests to Jesus being the Messiah who died for sins and rose from the grave. Paul writes that other people saw the resurrected Jesus. The idea is that Christ's followers will be resurrected as He was, that victory over death is achieved through faith.
Jesus' miracles took different forms. Some were psychosomatic like driving demons out of Mary Magdalene. Others showed power over nature like walking on water and turning water into wine. Jesus demonstrated His power over death by bringing Lazarus back to life. Colossians 1:16 states that Jesus created all things. He had power over all things.
Even more revealing is that Jesus forgave sinners. Such authority was associated with God.
What can we say about God? God is all-powerful, or omnipotent. He is everywhere, or omnipresent. He is all-knowing, or omniscient. He is eternal and infinite. He is the uncreated Creator. The New Testament implies that Jesus was all of these.
God is Spirit in the Old Testament. He is flesh in the New Testament. Jesus fulfilled 300 Old Testament prophecies. Zechariah 9:9 prophesied that He would enter Jerusalem on a donkey.
The seven days before Easter Sunday are called Passion (suffering) Week. Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, had the Last Supper on Thursday and was crucified on Good Friday. Sinless Jesus bore the sins of all humanity.
What of the Resurrection? Did the disciples steal Jesus' body? If there was a Resurrection, was it physical or spiritual? The American Bible Society concedes that the Resurrection is unbelievable while "resonating with inner truth."
No one saw Jesus come back to life even though the Bible records post-Resurrection appearances. Jesus appeared to His disciples and to Mary Magdalene. He appeared to Peter and James. He appeared to Paul. He appeared to 500 people at once.
There are no appearances in Mark. Matthew and Luke have a few. John has the most.
Jesus ascended into heaven from the Mount of Olives. He sent The Holy Spirit. The Pentecost, a painting by Jean Restout, is reproduced.
If a Creator, responsible for the "surge of energy" which exploded as the Big Bang, suspended the laws of nature to manifest Himself or Itself in the space/time continuum, then the Incarnation, miracles and Resurrection are true.
The Resurrection is the cornerstone of Christianity. According to the Bible, we must believe to receive God's grace. It is then that we become children of God.
Do I believe? Of course! Hallelujah! Thank you! Jesus!!
JESUS PAID MY DEBT http://jimcolyer.com/@tracks/9/lofi.mp3
Who was Jesus? Was He both God and man? Were the miracles real? Is the Resurrection fact or fiction?
Jesus said, "I am the vine." He said, "I am the gate." He said, "I am the way, the truth and the life."
The life of Christ is told in four gospels. Mark's gospel came first. Mark knew Peter and wrote his gospel based on Peter's account. Peter was in Jesus' inner circle.
Mark's gospel influenced Matthew and Luke. Matthew was a disciple. Luke was Paul's physician. The first three gospels are similar. John emphasizes Jesus' deity.
The biographies of Jesus differ from modern biographies. Parts of Jesus' life are skimmed over or omitted. Matthew has ties with the Old Testament. Mark focuses on the last week of Jesus' life. Luke underscores His humanity. John presents Jesus as the preexistent Word made flesh.
Paul encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus. Paul's New Testament letters predate the gospels. He attests to Jesus being the Messiah who died for sins and rose from the grave. Paul writes that other people saw the resurrected Jesus. The idea is that Christ's followers will be resurrected as He was, that victory over death is achieved through faith.
Jesus' miracles took different forms. Some were psychosomatic like driving demons out of Mary Magdalene. Others showed power over nature like walking on water and turning water into wine. Jesus demonstrated His power over death by bringing Lazarus back to life. Colossians 1:16 states that Jesus created all things. He had power over all things.
Even more revealing is that Jesus forgave sinners. Such authority was associated with God.
What can we say about God? God is all-powerful, or omnipotent. He is everywhere, or omnipresent. He is all-knowing, or omniscient. He is eternal and infinite. He is the uncreated Creator. The New Testament implies that Jesus was all of these.
God is Spirit in the Old Testament. He is flesh in the New Testament. Jesus fulfilled 300 Old Testament prophecies. Zechariah 9:9 prophesied that He would enter Jerusalem on a donkey.
The seven days before Easter Sunday are called Passion (suffering) Week. Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, had the Last Supper on Thursday and was crucified on Good Friday. Sinless Jesus bore the sins of all humanity.
What of the Resurrection? Did the disciples steal Jesus' body? If there was a Resurrection, was it physical or spiritual? The American Bible Society concedes that the Resurrection is unbelievable while "resonating with inner truth."
No one saw Jesus come back to life even though the Bible records post-Resurrection appearances. Jesus appeared to His disciples and to Mary Magdalene. He appeared to Peter and James. He appeared to Paul. He appeared to 500 people at once.
There are no appearances in Mark. Matthew and Luke have a few. John has the most.
Jesus ascended into heaven from the Mount of Olives. He sent The Holy Spirit. The Pentecost, a painting by Jean Restout, is reproduced.
If a Creator, responsible for the "surge of energy" which exploded as the Big Bang, suspended the laws of nature to manifest Himself or Itself in the space/time continuum, then the Incarnation, miracles and Resurrection are true.
The Resurrection is the cornerstone of Christianity. According to the Bible, we must believe to receive God's grace. It is then that we become children of God.
Do I believe? Of course! Hallelujah! Thank you! Jesus!!
JESUS PAID MY DEBT http://jimcolyer.com/@tracks/9/lofi.mp3