Comments You Will Not Hear at the 11-21-10 WT Study (September 15, 2010, pages 21-25 (LEADER CHRIST)
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“YOUR LEADER IS ONE,
THE CHRIST”
“Do not . . . be called ‘leaders,’ for your Leader is one,
the Christ.”—MATT. 23:9, 10.
OPENING COMMENTS
The Christ = Jesus + 144,000 = 144,001 Jesus head, 144,000 body
START OF ARTICLE
1. Whom do Jehovah’s Witnesses recognize as
Leader, and why?
CHRISTENDOM’S churches have human
leaders, such as the pope of Rome, the
patriarchs and metropolitans of the Eastern
Orthodox churches, and the heads of other
religions. Jehovah’s Witnesses recognize no
human as their leader. They are not disciples
or followers of any man. This is in line with
Jehovah’s prophetic utterance concerning
his Son: “Look! As a witness to the national
groups I have given him, as a leader
and commander to the national groups.”
(Isa. 55:4) The international congregation of
anointed Christians and their “other sheep”
companions want no leader other than the
one Jehovah has given them. (John 10:16)
They subscribe to Jesus’ statement: “Your
Leader is one, the Christ.”—Matt. 23:10.
COMMENTS
Semantics….based on this scripture the WTS does have leaders:
(Hebrews 13:7) . . .Remember those who are taking the lead among YOU, who have spoken the word of God to YOU, and as YOU contemplate how [their] conduct turns out imitate [their] faith.
(Hebrews 13:17) . . .Be obedient to those who are taking the lead among YOU and be submissive, for they are keeping watch over YOUR souls as those who will render an account; that they may do this with joy and not with sighing, for this would be damaging to YOU.
(Hebrews 13:24) . . .Give my greetings to all those who are taking the lead among YOU and to all the holy ones. Those in Italy send YOU their greetings.
*** w09 2/15 p. 28 par. 17 They “Keep Following the Lamb”***The members of the Governing Body are experienced, spirit-anointed elders. They in particular can be described as “those who are taking the lead” among us. (Heb. 13:7)
*** w09 11/15 p. 14 par. 5 We need to guard against developing a spirit of independence. By word or action, may we never challenge the channel of communication that Jehovah is using today. (Num. 16:1-3) On the contrary, we should cherish our privilege to cooperate with the slave class. And should we not strive to be obedient and submissive to those taking the lead in our local congregation?—ReadHebrews 13:7, 17.
*** w08 1/15 p. 26 par. 6 In a symbolic way, Christians with an earthly hope today walk behind the anointed slave class and its Governing Body, following their leadership.
*** w08 5/15 p. 29 The Head, Jesus Christ, supplies the body members with what is needed for good cooperation, coordination, and spiritual nourishment. (Eph. 4:15, 16; Col. 2:19) In such respects, the Governing Body is organized to take the lead as Jehovah directs them by holy spirit.
Spiritual Prince of Israel
2, 3. What active role did God’s Son
play in Israel?
2 Centuries before the founding of the
Christian congregation, Jehovah had an angelic
leader over his people Israel. After
bringing the Israelites out of Egypt, Jehovah
told them: “Here I am sending an angel
ahead of you to keep you on the road and to
bring you into the place that I have prepared.
Watch yourself because of him and
obey his voice. Do not behave rebelliously
against him, for he will not pardon your
transgression; because my name is within
him.” (Ex. 23:20, 21) It is reasonable
to believe that this angel, who had
‘Jehovah’s name within him,’ was
God’s firstborn Son.
COMMENTS
Does the Bible say that Jesus was the angel leading the Israelites out of Egypt?
“It is reasonable to believe” another buzzword meaning “we do not know but we will interpret the bible.
*** it-1p. 106 Angel***The foremost angel, both in power and authority, is Michael, the archangel. (Da 10:13, 21; 12:1; Jude 9; Re 12:7; see ARCHANGEL; MICHAEL No. 1.) Because of his preeminence and his being called “the great prince who is standing in behalf of the sons of [God’s] people,” he is presumed to be the angel that led Israel through the wilderness. (Ex 23:20-23)
*** it-2 p. 53 Jesus Christ***The angel who guided Israel through the wilderness and whose voice the Israelites were strictly to obey because ‘Jehovah’s name was within him,’ may therefore have been God’s Son, the Word.—Ex 23:20-23; compare Jos 5:13-15.
*** w043/15 p. 27***23:20-23—Whowastheangelmentionedhere,andhowwasitthatJehovah’snamewas“withinhim”?Likely, this angel was Jesus in his prehuman form.
3 Prior to his birth as a human,
God’s Son apparently had
the name Michael. In the book
of Daniel, Michael is called “the
prince of [Daniel’s] people,” Israel.
(Dan. 10:21) The disciple
Jude indicates that Michael was
involved in the affairs of Israel
long before Daniel’s day. After
Moses’ death, Satan apparently
intended to use the corpse to
further his own interests in someway, possibly
by inciting Israel to commit idolatry. Michael
stepped in to prevent this. Jude relates:
“When Michael the archangel had a difference
with the Devil and was disputing
about Moses’ body, he did not dare to
bring a judgment against him in abusive
terms, but said: ‘May Jehovah rebuke you.’ ”
(Jude 9) A little later, before the siege of Jericho,
it was doubtless Michael, the “prince
of the army of Jehovah,” who appeared
to Joshua to reassure him of divine backing.
(Read Joshua 5:13-15.) When a demon
prince tried to prevent an angel from delivering
an important message to the prophet
Daniel, the archangel Michael came to that
angel’s assistance.—Dan.10:5-7,12-14.
COMMENTS
APPARENTLY…had the name of Michael
Satan APPARENTLY intended to use
POSSIBLY by inciting Israel
DOUBTLESS Michael
Four qualifiers in one paragraph!
“I am sending
an angel ahead
of you”
The Foretold Leader Comes
4. What prophecy was given concerning the coming
of the Messiah?
4 Previous to this incident, Jehovah had
sent his angel Gabriel to the prophet Daniel
to convey to him a prophecy concerning the
coming of “Messiah the Leader.” (Dan. 9:21-
25)_ Exactly on time, in the fall of 29 C.E., Jesus
was baptized by John. Holy spirit was
poured out upon Jesus, making him the
Anointed One—Christ, the Messiah. (Matt.
3:13-17; John 1:29-34; Gal. 4:4) As such, he
was to become an incomparable Leader.
COMMENTS
Why doesn’t God send angels to the Governing Body so they don’t have to constantly adjust their assertions?
How do other Bible scholars comments on the timeliness of Daniel’s prophecy?
Was it “exactly on time”?
5. How did Christ act as Leader during his earthly
ministry?
5 From the beginning of his ministry on
earth, Jesus proved himself to be “Messiah
the Leader.” Within a few days, he began
gathering disciples, and he performed his
first miracle. (John 1:35–2:11) His disciples
followed him as he traveled the length and
breadth of the land, preaching the good
news of the Kingdom. (Luke 8:1) He trained
them in the preaching work and took the
lead in preaching and teaching, setting a fine
example. (Luke 9:1-6) Christian elders today
do well to imitate him in this respect.
_ For a discussion of this prophecy, see chapter 11 of
Pay Attention to Daniel’s Prophecy!
COMMENTS
In what way did Jesus prove “himself to be “Messiah the Leader” per the WTS?
Do jw elders really preach like Jesus did or do they delegate that to the ministerial servants and take off on personal errands? When was the last time an elder worked door to door with a publisher, their wife, their child? Is it because Jesus never did?
6. In what way did Christ prove to be a Shepherd
and Leader?
6 Jesus pointed to another aspect of his
leadership by comparing himself to a loving
shepherd. Oriental shepherds literally lead
their flocks. In The Land and the Book,
W. M. Thomson wrote: “The shepherd goes
before, not merely to point out the way, but
to see that it is practicable and safe. . . .With
[his] staff he rules and guides the flock to
their green pastures, and defends them from
their enemies.” Showing that he is a true
Shepherd and Leader, Jesus declared: “I am
the fine shepherd; the fine shepherd surrenders
his soul in behalf of the sheep. My
sheep listen to my voice, and I know them,
and they follow me.” (John 10:11, 27) True
to his word, Jesus died a sacrificial death in
behalf of his sheep, but Jehovah “raised him
up to be leader and Saviour.”—Acts 5:31, New
Jerusalem Bible; Heb.13:20.
COMMENTS
Elders just point the way…giving territory and making car groups as they take off in their own direction to do their “work” separate from the sheep. Do elders remember that they are sheep too?
Elders don’t even take time out of their lives to help the sheep, let alone die for them. I always used to imagine them sending out the rank and file to face the enemy with guns outside the doors.
Overseer of the Christian Congregation
7. By means of what does Jesus oversee the Christian
congregation?
7 Shortly before ascending to heaven, the
resurrected Jesus told his disciples: “All authority
has been given me in heaven and on
the earth.” (Matt. 28:18) Jehovah had Jesus
pass on holy spirit to strengthen his disciples
in Christian truth. (John15:26) Jesus poured
out this spirit upon the early Christians at
Pentecost 33 C.E. (Acts 2:33) That outpouring
of the holy spirit marked the founding
of the Christian congregation. Jehovah invested
his Son with the heavenly leadership
of the congregation on earth. (Read Ephesians
1:22; Colossians 1:13, 18.) Jesus guides
the Christian congregation by means of Je-
hovah’s holy spirit, and he has at his service
angels who were “made subject to him.”
—1 Pet. 3:22.
COMMENTS
If all authority was given to Jesus in 33 C.E., what authority did Jesus supposedly get in 1914?
Christian congregation—only anointed Christians—jws—not non-anointed (other sheep)
So does the holy spirit go only to the GB or does each Christian tap into it?
8. What earthly instrument did Christ use in the
first century to lead his disciples, and whom is he
using today?
8 Also by means of holy spirit, Christ gave
“gifts in men,” some “as shepherds and
teachers” in the congregation. (Eph. 4:8,
11) The apostle Paul urged Christian overseers:
“Pay attention to yourselves and to all
the flock, among which the holy spirit has
appointed you overseers, to shepherd the
congregation of God.” (Acts 20:28) When
the Christian congregation began, all these
overseers were spirit-anointed men. The
apostles and the elders of the Jerusalem
congregation acted as a governing body. Christ
used this instrument to lead the entire
group of his anointed “brothers” on earth.
(Heb. 2:11; Acts 16:4, 5) In this time of the
end, Christ has committed “all his belongings”—
all the earthly interests of the Kingdom—
to his “faithful and discreet slave” and
its representative Governing Body, a group
of anointed Christian men.
(Matt. 24:45-47) The anointed
and their other sheep companions
recognize that by following
the lead of the modern-day Governing
Body, they are in fact following
their Leader, Christ.
COMMENTS
The phrase “governing body” never occurs in the Bible; the WTS explains that the trinity concept is not scriptural because the word “trinity” does not appear in the Bible. Why the difference?
Although overseers are to “pay attention to themselves” first and foremost, why does the WTS excuse away their deliberate errors saying they are “imperfect”?
Is there only one leader or does Christ use the GB to LEAD Christ’s brothers on earth? Only the anointed are Christ’s brothers not the other sheep.
Does the FDS play a part or is it only represented by the GB?
FOLLOWING THE LEAD OF THE MODERN-DAY GOVERNING BODY, THEY ARE IN FACT FOLLOWING THEIR LEADER, CHRIST.
If there was a GB in the first century, why were anointed Christians then also following Christ through them?
GB = CHRIST
Christ Initiates the Preaching Work
9, 10. How did Christ direct matters with
regard to spreading the good news of the Kingdom?
9 Right from the start, Jesus
personally directed the worldwide
preaching and teaching activity.
He established the order in
which the good news of the Kingdom
was to be transmitted to the
inhabitants of the earth. During
his ministry, he instructed his
apostles: “Do not go off into the road of the
nations, and do not enter into a Samaritan
city; but, instead, go continually to the lost
sheep of the house of Israel. As you go,
preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of the heavens
has drawn near.’” (Matt. 10:5-7) They
did this zealously among Jews and proselytes,
especially after Pentecost 33 C.E.—Acts
2:4, 5, 10, 11; 5:42; 6:7.
COMMENTS
Jesus did more than direct; he actually did talk to people.
Do or did the elders train publishers individually in the book study setting?
Didn’t Jesus preach to non-jews, Samaritans, Syrians?
10 Later, by means of holy spirit, Jesus extended
the Kingdom-preaching work to the
Samaritans and then to other non-Jews.
(Acts 8:5, 6, 14-17; 10:19-22, 44, 45) With a
view to promoting the spread of the good
news among the nations, Jesus acted personally
to move Saul of Tarsus to become a
Christian. Jesus instructed his disciple Ananias:
“Rise, go to the street called Straight,
and at the house of Judas look for a man
named Saul, from Tarsus. . . . Be on your way,
because this man is a chosen vessel to me to
bear my name to the nations as well as to
kings and the sons of Israel.” (Acts 9:3-6, 10,
9, 10. How did Christ direct matters with regard to
spreading the good news of the Kingdom?
11, 15) “This man” became the apostle Paul.
—1 Tim. 2:7.
COMMENTS
Were Gentiles truly welcomed? Why the need to clarify the circumcision issue? Hadn’t God sent Peter to uncircumcised even having the holy spirit come down on them in that state and even baptized? Why did Paul have to counsel the Jewish Christians on their keeping Jewish tradition and feeling it was required by Gentile Christians? Although having been used by God to bring in Cornelius and his family did Peter shun them as unclean?
As in the past, Christ uses “gifts in men”
to shepherd his flock (so the woman has no scroll and has to depend that the “elders” are telling her the right thing…did the elders have a library of scrolls?)
11. How did Christ by means of holy spirit expand
the preaching work?
11 When the time came to expand the
work of Kingdom preaching among the
non-Jewish nations, heaven directed Paul on
missionary journeys in Asia Minor and on
into Europe. Luke’s account in Acts states:
“As they [Christian prophets and teachers in
the congregation in Syrian Antioch] were
publicly ministering to Jehovah and fasting,
the holy spirit said: ‘Of all persons set Barnabas
and Saul apart for me for the work to
which I have called them.’ Then they fasted
and prayed and laid their hands upon them
and let them go.” (Acts 13:2, 3) Jesus had
personally called Saul of Tarsus to be His
“chosen vessel” to bear His name to the nations;
hence, this new impetus to the witnessing
work came from Christ, the Leader
of the congregation. Jesus’ use of the holy
spirit to direct the work became unmistakably
clear during Paul’s second missionary
trip. The account states that “the spirit of Jesus,”
that is, Jesus by means of holy spirit,
guided Paul and his traveling companions in
the choice of their itinerary, and a vision led
them to move on into Europe.—Read Acts 16:
6-10.
COMMENTS
Heaven directed Paul? How? Holy spirit…not through the GB?
Jesus’ Leadership Over His Congregation
12, 13. How does the book of Revelation show that
Christ follows closely what goes on in each congregation?
12 Jesus followed closely what was going
on within the congregations of his anointed
followers in the first century C.E. He had intimate
knowledge of the spiritual condition
of each congregation. This becomes apparent
when we read Revelation chapters 2
and 3.He names seven congregations, all located
in Asia Minor. (Rev. 1:11) We have
every reason to believe that he was just
as familiar with the spiritual condition of
the other congregations of his followers on
earth at that time.—Read Revelation 2:23.
COMMENTS
If Jesus was just a familiar with all the other congregations, why were only 7 counseled? Didn’t they need his direction? Does this mean that Jesus has intimate knowledge of the child abuse cases in the congregation and it is his direction that the secular authorities not be notified? Are jws not to report murders?
13 Jesus commended some of the congregations
for their endurance, faithfulness under
trial, loyalty to his word, and rejection of
apostates. (Rev. 2:2, 9, 13, 19; 3:8) On the
other hand, he gave firm counsel to several
congregations because their love for him
had cooled off, they countenanced idolatry
and fornication, and they tolerated sectarianism.
(Rev. 2:4, 14, 15, 20; 3:15, 16) As a
loving spiritual overseer—even to those to
whom he gave strong admonition—Jesus
stated: “All those for whom I have affection I
reprove and discipline. Therefore be zealous
and repent.” (Rev. 3:19) Although in heaven,
Jesus was leading the congregations of his
disciples on earth by means of holy spirit. At
the end of the messages to those congregations,
he declared: “Let the one who has an
ear hear what the spirit says to the congregations.”—
Rev. 3:22.
COMMENTS
Jesus only commended and counseled 7 congregations…what about all the others?
Is Jesus leading or is the GB leading?
14-16. (a) How has Jesus proved to be a courageous
Leader of Jehovah’s people on earth? (b) What
has resulted from Jesus’ being “with” his disciples
“all the days until the conclusion of the system of
things”? (c) What will we consider in the following
article?
14 We have seen that Michael (Jesus)
proved to be a valiant angelic Leader of Israel.
Later, Jesus was a courageous Leader and a
loving Shepherd of his early disciples. During
his earthly ministry, he took the lead in
the preaching work. And after his resurrection,
he exercised close oversight of the
spreading of the Kingdom good news.
COMMENTS
Does the Bible say Jesus is Michael? Michael (Jesus) brackets mean the bible does not say but the WTS will add it to the scripture.
*** w06 5/15 p.5***Says the apostle John: “I saw an angel [the archangel Michael, or Jesus Christ] coming down out of heaven with the key of the abyss.”
*** w04 2/1 p.20 par. 10***Revelation 12:7-9 unmasks the culprit: “War broke out in heaven: Michael [Jesus Christ] and his angels battled with the dragon [Satan the Devil], and the dragon and its angels battled but it did not prevail
Does Jesus exercise DIRECT oversight today or only the GB?
15 By means of holy spirit, Jesus would
eventually extend the witnessing work to
the ends of the earth. Before ascending to
heaven, Jesus told his disciples: “You will receive
power when the holy spirit arrives
upon you, and you will be witnesses of me
both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria
and to the most distant part of the
earth.” (Acts 1:8; read 1 Peter 1:12.) Under
Christ’s direction, a tremendous
Witness was given in the first century.—Col.1:23.
COMMENTS
What does the WTS feel is the ends of the earth?
*** w00 1/15 p.13 par. 17***Fifth,we see a global preaching work being accomplished, which Jesus said would take place just before the end of this system. Jesus stated: “This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14) Today, that prophecy is in the course of fulfillment on an unprecedented scale. True, untouched territories still exist, and it may be that in Jehovah’s due time, a large door leading to greater activity will open. (1 Corinthians 16:9) Nevertheless, the Bible does not state that Jehovah will wait until every individual on earth has received a personal witness. Rather, the good news must be preached to Jehovah’s satisfaction. Then the end will come.—Compare Matthew 10:23.
*** w62 2/1 p. 96 Questions From Readers (Mt. 10:23)***Accordingly, by means of his instructions to his twelve apostles Jesus was prophetically telling us today that his anointed disciples or the remnant of spiritual Israel would not complete the circuit of the entire inhabited earth with the preaching of the message of God’s established kingdom before the glorified heavenly King Jesus Christ would arrive as Jehovah’s executional officer in the battle of Armageddon. This means that Jehovah’s witnesses today, who now include hundreds of thousands of the “other sheep” or earthly companions of the spiritual remnant, will not be able to reach personally all parts of the earth with the Kingdom message before the battle of Armageddon breaks out.
*** w97 8/15 p. 14 par. 11***Still, Jesus’ words recorded at Matthew 10:23 are sobering: “You will by no means complete the circuit of the cities of Israel until the Son of man arrives.” While the good news will surely be announced throughout the earth, we will not in person reach all parts of the earth with the Kingdom message before Jesus “arrives” as Executioner.
16 But Jesus himself indicated that this
work would continue into the time of the
end. After commissioning his followers to
preach and to make disciples among all the
nations, Jesus promised them: “I am with
you all the days until the conclusion of the
system of things.” (Matt. 28:19, 20) Since being
invested with kingly power in 1914,
Christ is more than ever “with” his disciples
and active as their Leader. His intense activity
since 1914will be examined in the following
article.
COMMENTS
The WTS taught that the time of the end began in 1799 CE.
The WTS taught that the end of the time of the end was 1914.
The WTS taught that Jesus received kingly power in 1878.
Who were Jesus’ “true” followers from 100 to 1879 CE?
By Way of Review
· ? How did God’s Son prove to be an
· active Leader in Israel?
· ? By what means does Christ lead his
· congregation on earth?
· ? How has Christ directed the spread
· of the good news?
· ? What shows that Christ follows closely
· the spiritual condition of each congregation?
·
CONCLUDING COMMENTS
Next week, Our Active Leader Today. Does the GB or Jesus lead? How could they discern their inspection in 1918?
*** w36 3/15 The Lord's Day part 1 p87 ***
22 Even the "faithful servant" class, the remnant, did not discern the coming of the Lord to the temple at the time it occurred. Those faithful ones were fully trusting in the Lord and waiting upon him, yet it was not until 1922 that the Lord revealed to them that he was at the temple for judgment.
Love Blondie