Bible shows that Jesus was
passionate about people receiving `life in all its fullness' in the here and
now, he loved fiercely, challenged corruption and hypocrisy of religious
authority, feasted with the marginalized, chastised the holier-than-thou types, healed
the sick, fed the hungry, restored broken lives, taught through stories and
offered a drastically new Kingdom where the last would be first and those that
served would be known as greatest….. so good a personality, and a supreme ideal
indeed to be imitated.
Yet what was his finality?
Rejection by people (and even by his own disciples who witnessed all
supernatural miracles—including his resurrecting the dead) and a cruel and
torturous death.
It is true that Gospels
report that God resurrected Jesus. However, the way each of them differ in
reporting resurrection details does more harm than help to God and Jesus. If
the resurrection was a fact, why can’t the reporting match the majesty of that truth
leaving not even a slightest shadow of doubt?
When something is
orchestrated by God, it should reflect the majesty of God. But here in the
portrayal of Jesus it is not only that majesty is lacking, but it seems also to
be counter-productive:
JESUS
SOWED WHAT IS GOOD, AND REAPED WHAT IS BAD!
What kind of message is
this? How can this plot inspire readers?
Fundamentalists may say “it
was God’s will that Jesus should suffer and receive glory from God later.”
But REASON suggests that “it
can’t be God’s will the Jesus (or anyone for that matter) should suffer for
someone else’s sin to receive glory later!