chavic
New Member
I'm trying to get some people's views on what Jesus was really teaching. What was the point of his parables, actions, ect. Specific verses are welcome. This is a really long post, I'm sorry, please bear with me.
Jesus taught love God and love your neighbors yourself, but mainly, What I see it as, is Jesus was teaching belief equals reality. That faith without doubt is power. That people have more power than they give themselves for.
What the heck am I trying to say? Examples:
Matthew 14:28-31 (for those that don't know: Jesus was walking across the stormy sea to the diciples' boat, they see him and are afriad he is a spirit, he tells them its me dont be afraid)
28:And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be you, bid me come unto the water.
29: And he said, Come. And when Peter came down off the ship he walked on water, to go to Jesus.
30: But when he saw the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink cried, saying, Lord, save me.
31: And immediatley Jesus stretched forth his hand and caught him, and said unto him, O you of little faith, why did you doubt?
Whoa, wait a second, Peter wasn't the son of God, how could he walk on water?Hmmmm...
Because he believed he could(for a little while at least)
Mark 9:23- Jesus unto him, If you can believe, all things are possible to him that believes
ALL THINGS?
John 14:12- Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do he shall do also, and greater works than these shall he do...
(yes "on me" is right...not in)
So is Jesus saying we can do greater things than him?
I'm not saying that we should do things without God, or God is unneeded. But I believe that we can do great things as humans if we live by the example of Jesus.
Jesus didn't ask us to praise him, and most of the wonders he worked he told witnesses not to tell anyone. Why? I think because he saw that people would be drawn to praise him as a God instead of listen to what he was trying to teach.
Mark 11:23 Verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mount, be removed, and cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things he says will come to pass; he shall have what he says.
Jesus doesn't say "if you tell the mountain to move, and that is in line with my will, it will move". He says "it will move if you BELIEVE it will". We as humans have power, as God made us in his image, and as Jesus sought to tell us. That is what I believe.
Mark 6:5
And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.
6:6-And he marveled because of their unbelief.
He couldn't heal people who didn't believe he could heal them.
There is nothing wrong with being humble, but God doesn't want us to be weak. He needs us to be strong, to be an example to others. Jesus said the greatest thing anyone can do is lay down their life for another, his death on the cross was an example for all of us and it was far from shameful. Yes I know the Romans considered it a shamefull punishment, but Jesus' act isn't shameful. He knew what was coming, but went on willingly. Thats awesome. Thats powerfull.
The power over death is something we all have, as none of us will ever die in the sense of ceasing to exist.
The entire life of Jesus is a lesson. People focus so strongly on his death on the cross that I think they miss his many other messages. Jesus lead a perfect life, his words and deeds were all posible because of his belief in himself. He knew there was no reason to doubt or be afraid, because nothing has power over us unless we give it power to.
When the Jews want to stone the adulteress in the book of John, Jesus stumps them by mearly saying "Let he who is without sin throw the first stone." They leave and he tells the woman simply "Go and sin no more". It doesn't matter what we have done, all that matters is what we do now with our life. I don't want to get into a big discussion on sin in this thread, but I think the one of the worst things we can do is doubt. When we doubt we ignore the teachings of Jesus, the Bible and let ourselves and those around us down.
Go out and live life the best you know how to live, do whats right, even when it doesn't benifit you. Seek perfection. By living this way we worship God with our heart, our strength, and our mind; more than any amount of prayer and praising can do.
I'll stop here, but theres LOTS more (verbatum: Jesus's lack of power over unbelivers, the signs of those that follow Jesus example, ect.) So tell me what you think, we can argue, I'll slap you with more Scripture, it should be fun!
Jesus taught love God and love your neighbors yourself, but mainly, What I see it as, is Jesus was teaching belief equals reality. That faith without doubt is power. That people have more power than they give themselves for.
What the heck am I trying to say? Examples:
Matthew 14:28-31 (for those that don't know: Jesus was walking across the stormy sea to the diciples' boat, they see him and are afriad he is a spirit, he tells them its me dont be afraid)
28:And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be you, bid me come unto the water.
29: And he said, Come. And when Peter came down off the ship he walked on water, to go to Jesus.
30: But when he saw the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink cried, saying, Lord, save me.
31: And immediatley Jesus stretched forth his hand and caught him, and said unto him, O you of little faith, why did you doubt?
Whoa, wait a second, Peter wasn't the son of God, how could he walk on water?Hmmmm...
Because he believed he could(for a little while at least)
Mark 9:23- Jesus unto him, If you can believe, all things are possible to him that believes
ALL THINGS?
John 14:12- Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do he shall do also, and greater works than these shall he do...
(yes "on me" is right...not in)
So is Jesus saying we can do greater things than him?
I'm not saying that we should do things without God, or God is unneeded. But I believe that we can do great things as humans if we live by the example of Jesus.
Jesus didn't ask us to praise him, and most of the wonders he worked he told witnesses not to tell anyone. Why? I think because he saw that people would be drawn to praise him as a God instead of listen to what he was trying to teach.
Mark 11:23 Verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mount, be removed, and cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things he says will come to pass; he shall have what he says.
Jesus doesn't say "if you tell the mountain to move, and that is in line with my will, it will move". He says "it will move if you BELIEVE it will". We as humans have power, as God made us in his image, and as Jesus sought to tell us. That is what I believe.
Mark 6:5
And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.
6:6-And he marveled because of their unbelief.
He couldn't heal people who didn't believe he could heal them.
There is nothing wrong with being humble, but God doesn't want us to be weak. He needs us to be strong, to be an example to others. Jesus said the greatest thing anyone can do is lay down their life for another, his death on the cross was an example for all of us and it was far from shameful. Yes I know the Romans considered it a shamefull punishment, but Jesus' act isn't shameful. He knew what was coming, but went on willingly. Thats awesome. Thats powerfull.
The power over death is something we all have, as none of us will ever die in the sense of ceasing to exist.
The entire life of Jesus is a lesson. People focus so strongly on his death on the cross that I think they miss his many other messages. Jesus lead a perfect life, his words and deeds were all posible because of his belief in himself. He knew there was no reason to doubt or be afraid, because nothing has power over us unless we give it power to.
When the Jews want to stone the adulteress in the book of John, Jesus stumps them by mearly saying "Let he who is without sin throw the first stone." They leave and he tells the woman simply "Go and sin no more". It doesn't matter what we have done, all that matters is what we do now with our life. I don't want to get into a big discussion on sin in this thread, but I think the one of the worst things we can do is doubt. When we doubt we ignore the teachings of Jesus, the Bible and let ourselves and those around us down.
Go out and live life the best you know how to live, do whats right, even when it doesn't benifit you. Seek perfection. By living this way we worship God with our heart, our strength, and our mind; more than any amount of prayer and praising can do.
I'll stop here, but theres LOTS more (verbatum: Jesus's lack of power over unbelivers, the signs of those that follow Jesus example, ect.) So tell me what you think, we can argue, I'll slap you with more Scripture, it should be fun!
