A Jesus question...

zound

This is directed to believers in Jesus.

If Jesus existed, and did the miracles he did - quite openly and in public - and spoke the words he spoke, words that echo through the centuries and supposedly have the power to change peoples lives today just by reading them...

...why is it that so many people in the time of his presence on earth, who saw the miracles, heard the sermons - HEARD the very voice of the son of God - why were so many less than impressed? Why did many experience all that and then conclude "Messiah? Nah I don't think so."

???

Band on the Run

There is some point in the gospels that has the audience impressed by Jesus. Some thought he was good. Others claimed he had special powers but they were Satanic. Good point. Perhaps the miracles were more subtle than reported. If I saw the stuff in the gospels, I would believe. He drew huge crowds yet no one voted for Jesus' life to be spared by Pilate. It is confusing.

One would expect to find some documents in the first century record recounting the miracles from a neutral perspective. There are no contemporary accounts from his believers.

pacloc

It was because of the drastic claims that Jesus made of being God's Son therefore Divine and eternal. Jews only viewing him as a man, could not accept the claims he made. He didn't tell people to only follow God, but rather told them to follow Himself. He told them that they must eat his flesh and drink his blood. He forgave sins, he worked on the Sabboth.

Also, many did follow him. It just took some longer than others. Today there are quite a few Christians, so it was quite a few that had to keep it going.

zound

I understand that pacloc, but for example - the earth shaking and graves being opened up and people resurected and walking around upon Jesus death I would have thought may have persueded even the Jews that condemed him to death in the first place that he was in fact the Messiah.

Why is it they most likely experienced all that, or at the very least heard second hand accounts of it (as opposed to the translation and time desiminated accounts we have today) and still decided - "Messiah? No, just some crazy guy."

Island Man

Anyone doing a bit of objective research into ancient religion and myth would soon discover that the Jesus story as reported in the synoptic gospels actually follows the same pattern, having the same elements as other mythological legends that even predate Jesus.

You should find this video discussion by an expert in the field very eye-opening (you need to "fast-forward" to the 28:00 mark, where the lecture actually begins):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ILldt2XHZw0

tec

Peace to you, Zound!

Christ actually speaks of it Himself.

"... If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."

'Jesus' answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father who has given them to me, is greater than all; no once can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one."

Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but 'Jesus' said to them,

"I have shown you many great miracles from teh Father. For which of these do you stone me?"

"We are not stoning you for any of these," replied the Jews, "but for blasphemy..."

Despite the miracles that they saw, they did not believe because they were not his sheep. (this does not mean that anyone who rejected him could not turn and repent and come to Him another time, mind you, as some later did)

Some people will not believe even a miracle... because they do not want to believe the truth that goes WITH the miracle. Or face that they are wrong, or that they are following a lie... something the truth would reveal about them and their 'cherished' beliefs. Same reason some people start flinging ad hominem attacks... (they did say that my Lord had/was possessed by a demon, and that He cast out other demons in the name of Satan... )... rather than look at the truth of something being stated and/or staring them right in the face. They will harden their hearts against Him, and are no longer be ABLE to see or hear.

Consider that Israel began to grumble even after Moses showed them many miracles and freed them from Pharoah. And even after all that, Moses took 'too long' up on the mountain, and the people built themselves a golden calf, deciding that he would never return. Despite everything that they had seen and survived. People today often say, 'show us a miracle and we will believe'... and some might. But those who do not want to believe, who have hardened their hearts... these ones will find a way NOT to believe. Some of them would not even LOOK at the miracle (or truth).

Some are also so focused on the image they have built of God ... that they do not recognize and so cannot see the Truth of God sent to them.

Peace to you,

tammy

Ding

They were expecting a political/military savior and Jesus didn't meet those expectations.

unstopableravens

simply put jesus said no one come to me unless the father draws him, reading the bible is not enough

A Jesus question...

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