SikhSpectrum.com Quarterly
                                                 Issue No.26, November 2006

 
Who is Jesus Christ?

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Gary DeVaney


This work focuses on selected controversial Bible passages. Paraphrased? Yes. If they were not paraphrased it would be 4-5 times longer - and boring. Many, who learn some of these concentrated facts become afraid, not bored. It often triggers thought where thought has not been before. This work gives you over 90% of its C&V sources. This is not a work of perfection. Neither are the Bibles it takes issue with. The King James and Catholic Bibles don’t always use the same words but they do basically say the same things, Chapter and Verse.  

Is the Biblical God the fear-based model behind the destructive history of mankind? In the discovery process, I personally felt hurt by what the Bible’s words said, and was shocked by what they meant. My research had many starts and stops. In attempting to cover this material, you may experience surprise, shock, frustration, anger, confusion and anxiety. Some, who are out of touch with Biblical reality, consider it a joke. Some say that I’m nuts or insane because I take issue with the Bible and its God. Insults are often used when debating skills are limited. When you consider the vast centuries of religion (fear-programming) our genes must have absorbed, it becomes a little obvious why most people fearfully avoid learning about their Bible and its God.

From thinking to doing: To evaluate this investigation, get out a Bible and see how much you can handle. Every time I threw up my hands and quit, I found myself in some form of denial. To get through this research, I had to put my ego in my pocket. When I didn’t, I tended to jump on everything - format, interpretation, Biblical source and denial of the stated facts, in favor of my own hopes, idealism, and feel-good fantasies. Again, up front, the three Bibles do not always say nor mean exactly the same thing, chapter and verse. Often, the Bible source concerning a particular passage is indicated: KJV, Torah etc.

I found to seek truth, justice and reality, there was little room for loyalty, patriotism, love, friendship, rank or respect. I decided, for success, to be on the side of reality. Facts and evidence concerning the Bible, lies within the words written - and their factual meanings; not my idealism nor feel-good fantasies. The words of these Bibles just will not go away. I often wanted to write-off all clear-cut and damning evidence in an imaginative way or to protect my “beliefs” (programmed feelings) by avoiding the topic.

When I mustered the courage to point out some of these selected Bible passages to others, I quickly found that it often triggered their wrath. Granted, some were fascinated with my find. Others waged an attitude. I asked some of them:

Why are you upset? What does the Bible actually say? What do you want it to mean?

Are you upset because these passages do exist in your Bible?

Are you upset because these passages were pointed out to you?

Are you upset because you cannot successfully defend them?

In 1982, the beginning of this research, I could not be critical of the Bible nor question its God. I asked myself if I was categorically brainwashed because I couldn’t question nor be critical of my commitments. It seemed I always wanted to quit and run. To be honest, I often did quit and run. Completing this report on Jesus Christ was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Now, I’m not scared anymore, but throughout my education, I did have my moments. I do hope it goes easier for you.

Who is Jesus Christ?

No one knows, with certainty, when or where Jesus was born.

Old Testament (OT) "prophesy": Isaiah 7:14 The "virgin" (almah) shall be with child and his name shall be Immanuel.

In Isaiah’s day, the Hebrew word "almah" merely meant a young woman - not a virgin.

And, why is the Messiah's name Jesus Christ instead of Immanuel? Who calls Jesus "Immanuel" when referring to Him? Do you call Jesus Christ as Immanuel when referring to Him? By what name do you call Him? Did not Isaiah state: "His name shall be Immanuel."

Doesn't the Isaiah: 7:14 "prophesy" prove to be bogus? Would your explanation of it be based on what is written C & V? [C & V stands for chapter and verse] 

I tend to take some issue with: "The Star In The East"

Matthew 2:1-2&9 Wise men came saying: Where is He that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east… KJV

West of Bethlehem lies the Mediterranean Sea. These wise men must have come from the east. Some say they were Persian kings. A popular song says they were from the Orient. Wouldn’t following a star hovering over Bethlehem be, to them, a star in the west?

Matthew 1:16 Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary…

This introduction to Joseph and Mary starts off with Joseph being Mary's husband. Doesn’t husband mean that Mary was already married to Joseph?

Then 2 verses later in -

Matthew 1:18 Mary was betrothed to Joseph but before they lived together she was pregnant. Catholic

Note: Specific KJV or Catholic Bible sources are sometimes illustrated, as sometimes the wording differs - but the basic message is the same.

Was Jesus Christ conceived out of wedlock? If it were anyone else, from a legal and a moral standpoint, wouldn’t this birth be considered illegitimate? Throughout history, have righteous Judeo-Christians ever ridiculed males born out of wedlock by calling them "bastards"? Of course, that term could never apply here - but would it apply if it weren't Jesus?

Holman Bible Dictionary: "King Herod The Great" was an actual historical character who died in 4 BC. The Bible depicted that this specific "King Herod The Great" killed newborn babies in an attempt to kill Jesus, the future King of the Jews. Jesus escaped with His parents, Mary and Joseph, to Egypt. (Matthew 2)

Note: Jesus Christ had to be born between 4-6 BC for King Herod The Great to do this. How could Jesus Christ possibly be born 4-6 years before Himself? Was our calendar really based on the Birth of Jesus Christ? Don't most believers consider any calendar date "BC" to mean Before Christ? When challenged, some believers immediately refer to "BCE" to mean Before Current Era. The topic taken issue with is "BC."

What is your "spin" on the topic?

The Immaculate Conception?

The Webster's International and Oxford American Dictionaries: "Immaculate Conception" is a doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church in that the Virgin Mary, from the moment of her conception by her mother, was and remained free of original sin. Pope Pious IX proclaimed this as dogma in 1854. It is sometimes confused with Mary giving "virgin birth" to Jesus. 

Webster's: "Virgin Birth" (Parthenogenesis): In Christian theology, Jesus Christ was born to Mary without prejudice to her virginity. Mary was Jesus' only human parent.

What? Logically, how can any woman physically remain a virgin after childbirth? There is no mention of Jesus Christ being born by "caesarean section." Also, according to this claim, Jesus can technically have only 23 human chromosomes - which were derived only from His mother, Mary? If it takes 46 human chromosomes to fully qualify to be a human being, how can Jesus Christ fully qualify to be fully human? God and the Holy Spirit do not claim to be human. Doesn't Jesus Christ have to be fully human, to live as a human being and to be sacrificed as a perfect human being for the "salvation" of all humanity? If Jesus is not a full and perfect human being, does that in any way alter the despicable, sacrificing agenda that the Biblical God pre-planned (predestined), intended, orchestrated and executed?

Why do some believers, mostly Catholics, declare that Mary maintained her virginity after Jesus was born?

Because Mark 6:3 documents: Is He (Jesus) not the son of Mary, the brother of James, Joses, Judas and Simon?

Luke 2:7 & John 2:12 also provide evidence that Jesus had brothers and sisters.

Specifically, if Mary consummated her marriage with Joseph to make it legal and had more children, how could Mary have remained a virgin?

C. Dennis McKinsey: Christianity stands or falls upon The Virgin Birth and The Resurrection.  

Matthew 1:19 Joseph was minded to put Mary away privately. KJV

What? Joseph was thinking of killing Mary at one point in time? 

Matthew 1:19 Joseph, at one point, had decided to divorce Mary quietly. Catholic

Divorce is serious, but in this case divorce is not necessary - if Joseph and Mary were not yet married. What is the real story?

Two Catholic Bible Notes (BN): 

BN 1. The genetic line is broken, but the promises to David are fulfilled. Through Joseph’s ADOPTION, the child, Jesus, belongs to the line of David.

What? Adoption? What is this Catholic Bible Note saying? Jesus Christ's blood-tie to King David is now being claimed, spun-off and pacified to be by "adoption"?  How can that be? Would you buy that? I know - to believe means that you have bought what you believe - and that you have become mind-set about it. 

BN 2. Joseph wished to break his union with Mary whom he suspected of a gross violation of the law which was punishable by stoning one to death.

What! The Catholic Bible Notes (BN) said these things?

Luke 1:30-31 An Angel (Gabriel) told Mary: You will conceive and bear a son you will name Jesus.

Why is He not named Immanuel according to Isaiah 7:14? The Bibles promises, prophesies and forecasts are proven to be not valid or consistent.

Luke 1:32 He (Jesus) will be called Son of The Most High and God will give Him the throne of David, His father.

When did Jesus Christ ever get the throne of King David?

Luke 1:33 He (Jesus) will rule over the house of Jacob (The Jews?) forever. 

C. Dennis McKinsey: When did Jesus ever rule over the house of Jacob, the Jews?

Sorry, but right here in Luke 1:30-33, the Bible has documented some blatant falsehoods and prophesized some outright lies.

Mary asked: How shall this be, being that I know not a man? (A good question, Mary. By the way, how old was Mary?)

Gabriel said: The Holy Spirit will come upon you. The son you bear shall be called The Son of God.

The Trinity

The Trinity claims that: Jesus is God - God is The Holy Spirit - The Holy Spirit is Jesus.

If Jesus is the Holy Spirit, then did Jesus impregnate His Own mother, Mary, to produce Himself.

Perspectives from television’s: Mysteries of the Bible*

*  Nazareth, today, is hallowed by Christians as the home of Jesus Christ. The Church of the Annunciation has for centuries been one of Christianity’s holy sites. The church was built on the site of the house of Mary and Joseph.

Luke 1:36 (The Angel, Gabriel, said to Mary): Elizabeth, your relative, in her old age, is in her 6th month having conceived a son…

This pregnancy resulted in the birth of John the Baptist.

*  The Cave of the Annunciation is where the Angel, Gabriel, announced to Mary of her conception of Jesus Christ. The Cave of the Annunciation is thought to be the dwelling place of the holy-family, which lies beneath the church.

Was Mary already living with Joseph when Gabriel made his announcement?

*  (Program comment) The very idea of a "virgin birth" by human beings is something that transcends our scientific understanding.  

So, John the Baptist and Jesus Christ were cousins just 6-months apart in age? Did John the Baptist later baptize Jesus Christ? Mary's mother and John the Baptist's mother (Elizabeth) were sisters? Isn't this becoming a family saga?

C. Dennis McKinsey: If Joseph was not the genetic father of Jesus Christ, then Jesus could not have been of King David’s seed; thus, not the Messiah. Ergo, Christians must abandon either "The Virgin Birth" or that Jesus was "The Messiah." If the virgin birth is bogus, is anything else written about Jesus trustworthy? If Jesus is not virgin-born, then how can He be God?

Thank you so much Dennis McKinsey!

*  In Bethlehem, there is The Church of the Nativity beneath which was a cave where Christ was supposedly born. For centuries, Christians have revered it as the birthplace of their Lord. Outside is manger square. A silver star marks the place where Jesus was said to be born. A Latin inscription says: Here Jesus Christ was born of The Virgin Mary.

Finish: Mysteries of the Bible.

Having trouble? Suggestion: Stop! Pick it up again when you are in an investigative mood.

(Galatians 4:4) Paul said: Jesus was made of a woman made under the law… KJV

(Galatians 4:4) Paul said: Jesus was born of a woman born under the law… Catholic

Paul was the biggest New Testament (NT) writer about Jesus and he said nothing unusual about the birth of Jesus. Doesn’t “born under the law,” mean that Mary had married Joseph, and the two bore Jesus legitimately under the law? If Joseph never sexually consummated their marriage, under Judeo-Christian law, Mary and Joseph were never legally married. 

Mark, the 1st and earliest gospel writer of the 4, also said nothing unusual about the birth of Jesus. Did Matthew and Luke read in Mark 1:11: You are my beloved son in whom I am well pleased and then back up their own stories to include a virgin birth? Did Matthew write about it first? Did Luke then plagiarize (borrow) this "virtual reality" from Matthew?

Did the Old Testament (OT) prophecies speak to the NT writers loud and clear? One prophecy was: The Messiah would be a descendant of King David, one of Israel’s greatest leaders who was born in Bethlehem. To fulfill these ancient Davidic prophecies, it may have seemed right to the gospel writers to place the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. But is the prophecy being fulfilled or is the questionable myth of Jesus Christ being written to fulfill prophecy? Some think that Jesus was born in a cave. Luke says Jesus was laid in a manger but does not say He was born there.

Rev 22:16 Jesus said: I am the root and the offspring of David…

Both Matthew 1:1-16 and Luke 3:23-31 conflict in Joseph’s lineage in being a blood descendant of King David. The lineage is stated to be through Joseph in both cases - not “The Virgin” Mary’s lineage - as apologist clergy can't help but spin. How else can Clergy attempt to justify it? How can Jesus be a blood descendant of King David if the genes had to go through Joseph as it is written twice, both in Matthew and Luke? The blood / genes did not go from King David through Joseph to Jesus Christ. Stating with David's sons, Solomon and Nathan, why are the names not the same in each lineage? No Biblical C&V claims that the lineage is through Mary? Does the Bible again prove to be irrational and flawed? At best, the issue of Jesus' lineage is Biblically unclear.

Mark 2:10 Jesus said: You may know that The Son of Man has the authority to forgive sins on Earth.

Didn’t the Jews consider that to be blasphemy? Yes, it contributed to Jesus getting crucified. Do Jews claim there to be any valid history concerning Jesus? If so, let's see the quality and the source of the Jewish documentation. Let's see how many Jewish Rabbis would support such documentation.

Mark 2:17 & Luke 5:31 Jesus said: Those who are healthy and well do not need a physician, but the sick do.

What? Didn't Jesus Christ say, right here, that "the sick need a physician"?

Colossians 4:14 states that Luke, himself, was a physician.

Concerning physicians, why do Christian Scientists ignore these last 2 Biblical C&V passages and avoid physicians? Don't Christian Scientists believe Jesus Christ's own words? Don't they believe in His apostle, Luke? Do they just pick and choose what C&Vs to believe in and what C&Vs do not matter? Well, everybody else seems to also pick and choose - so - why not? Right?

Truth, feelings and learning may be subjective while objective C&V facts are the same for all and everybody. The Bibles own words will not conveniently go away for fact-spinning believers.

John 3:13 Jesus said: No one has gone up to Heaven except the One who has come down from Heaven, The Son of Man.

But, when Jesus said this, Jesus, Himself, had not yet gone up to Heaven. If Jesus, Himself, is the only one to have gone up to Heaven, doesn’t that contradict and eliminate Enoch’s going up to Heaven in Genesis 5:22-24 and Elijah’s going up to Heaven in a whirlwind in II Kings 2:11 and Angels going up and down, to and from Heaven on "Jacob’s Ladder" in Genesis 28:12? So, did Jesus Christ utter a falsehood here? 

Mark 3:20-22 Jesus came home. His relatives set out to seize Him (Jesus) and said that He (Jesus) was out of His mind and that He (Jesus) was possessed by Satan.

What? Wow! Jesus’ Own relatives said that "He had Satan in Him and He was out of His mind"? Jesus had been around His relatives for years and He obviously didn't sell even them on His perfection. Shocking! What kind of Biblical C&V testimony did Jesus Christ's blood relatives give about Him?

Mark 3:29 Jesus said: Whoever blasphemes against The Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of everlasting sin.

If Jesus is the "Holy Spirit", it is obvious that Jesus' relatives have committed the "unpardonable sin" and we can probably expect to see them in Hell for eternity.  

Is Jesus' forgiveness conditional or is His forgiveness not conditional? Based on Jesus' statement in Mark 3:29, can one have it both ways?

John 3:36 Jesus said: Whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.

This confirms that Jesus wants to be obeyed and if you disobey Jesus, you won't see life and the wrath of God will be on you.

It seems that Jesus' and God's "good cop / bad cop" roles could sometimes be reversed. I don't know. God always plays the BAD COP role much better. Satan doesn't even amount to an EXTRA in this poor written production.   

Obedience, service and sacrifice to authority - this is the real agenda of the God-game. "God" and "Authority" are synonymous and interchangeable in every Biblical context.

Mark 4:11-12 Jesus said to His 12 disciples: The mystery of the Kingdom has been granted to you. To those outside, everything comes in parables so that they may not understand in order that they may not be converted and forgiven. Catholic

Why the secrets? Does Jesus speak to everyone outside of his 12 disciples in a manner that they may not understand? Does Jesus talk to them in a way that they cannot be converted or forgiven? God often did the same thing in The Old Testament. Here are some examples:

I Kings 22:19-23 God permits His prophets to lie and deceive others on His behalf. God put a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets…

What? Do you personally believe in and preach these sacred Chapter & Verses?

How about this one:

 

Ezekiel 20:25-28 God said: I gave them statutes and ordinances that were not good so they could not live.

Wouldn't you think that the Biblical God would be more decent than that?

II Thessalonians 2:11-12 God is sending them a deceiving power so that they may believe the lie, that all who approved wrongdoing may be condemned.

John 4:22 Jesus said: You people worship what you do not understand. We worship what we understand, because salvation is of the Jews. KJV

What? Salvation is a racial thing??

I'll help you. Yes.

Mark 4:34 To His Own disciples Jesus explained everything in private.

Again, why the secrets if Jesus is good, open, sincere and honest? What kind of "models of integrity" are Jesus and God projecting themselves to be, C&V. How can institutions like West Point and Annapolis expect to live up to a "higher standard" than God's and Jesus' obvious C&V standards?

Galatians 5:16-18 Live by the spirit and you will not fulfill the lusts of your flesh. The flesh desires against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh; these are opposed to each other so you may not do what you want. If you are guided by the spirit, you are not under the law.

So, if you are on God's side - you can break the law? What? If you are guided by the spirit, you are not under the law? Aren’t these Biblical guidelines designed for poor mental-health and penitentiary living?

Thomas Paine: Outside of The New Testament writings, there is no history written at the time Jesus Christ is said to have lived that speaks of the existence of such a person, even as a man. So, Thomas Paine asserts that, on behalf of history, Jesus Christ never lived as a man!

Well, maybe Josephus. He was a documented, historical Jewish writer. Many scholars view that the few elementary statements Josephus is credited to have written about Jesus may have been added by later scribes to falsely validate the questionable and mythical existence of Jesus Christ.

Are these C&V passages surprising and controversial to you? Relax and check your mood about them. 

Believers have said: I am totally upset. I don't know how anybody can take such issues with my Jesus, my God and my Bible. I'm totally offended! You're going to Hell!

John 5:18 The Jews tried to kill Jesus because He not only broke the Sabbath but He also called God His Own Father, making Himself equal to God. 

If Jesus is stated to be "equal” to God, how can Jesus actually be God? How can any father and son be, in reality, the same person?

John 5:19-30 Jesus said: A son can’t do anything on his own, only what he sees his father do for what he does his son will do also. (What about the brain-surgeon whose father sold cars?) Just as the Father raises the dead so does the Son give life to whomever He wishes. (What? Jesus does discriminate?) Whoever honors the Son honors the Father and whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father. (So, one cannot honor God without Jesus? No wonder Muslims, Jews and numerous other believers are upset.) Whoever hears Me and believes in God has eternal life and not condemnation. The hour is now here when the dead will hear the voice of Jesus and those who hear will live. God gave Jesus the power to exercise judgment, because He is The Son of Man. The hour comes when all who are in the tombs will hear His voice and will come out. Good deeds is resurrection of life; wicked deeds, condemnation. I cannot do anything on My own. I judge as I hear. I don’t seek My Own will but the will of God.

Jesus judges deeds / works! Jesus seeks God’s will, not His Own? Again, by Jesus' Own words, how can Jesus be God?

John 5:21-22 As God raises the dead and gives life, so does the Son give life to whomever He wishes. Nor does God judge anyone, but He has given all judgment to His Son.

What? God judges no one? It is Jesus who discriminates, judges, picks and chooses and determines who goes to Heaven and if you are to go to Hell? Did you know that, according to the words of Jesus Christ, Jesus judges you and God does not?

John 6:64-70 Jesus knew from the beginning who would not believe Him and who would betray Him. No one can come to Me unless he is chosen by God. As a result many of His disciples left Him. Jesus said: Do you also want to leave? Did I not choose you twelve. Yet, is not one of you a devil?

It is all predestined? God chose the 12? Then, it's Jesus Who chose the 12? Jesus lost many? Why? Couldn't Jesus hold their respect and attention? Didn't they believe in Jesus? Jesus chose a devil, Judas? Why would Jesus do that? If God is in control and it is all predestined, including Jesus' sacrifice, why would a good, nice, secure, knowledgeable, compassionate, loving being put humanity, including His Own Son, through such a heinous, horrible and painful scenario? How can believers support such a Character? Could Judas be condemned for fulfilling the will of God?

John 8:15 & 12:47 Jesus said: I judge no man. KJV

What? Now, John writes that Jesus said He judges no man? John, why do your writings conflict and contradict? Granted, my writings have numerous errors, but John, you are a man who supposedly wrote God’s “perfect” words. Your writings have to be correct. But, they prove that they are not.  

Mark 3:5 Jesus, looking around at them with anger…

Now, Jesus has a temper.

Matthew 5:22 Jesus said: Whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment.

What? Do as I say - not as I do? 

Frederick Nietzsche: Convictions are greater enemies of truth than are lies.

John 5:34 Jesus said: I do not accept testimony from a human being… Catholic

What? Then - how does Jesus’ not accepting testimony affect prayer? Calling all believers - did you know this? Check out John 5:14 for yourself. You do believe the "Holy" Bible - don't you?

Mark 5:27-30 A woman touched Jesus’ cloak. Jesus was aware, at once, that power had gone out from Him.

What? Doesn’t this mean that Jesus had conditional, limited, depleting and uncontrollable power? What else can it possibly mean?

Matthew 5:28 Jesus said: Everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

President Jimmy Carter had a guilty conscience about that one.

Matthew 5:22 Jesus said: Whoever says “you fool” will be liable to fiery Gehenna. Catholic

Matthew 23:17 & Luke 11:40

Jesus refers to others as “fools”.

If Jesus' statement is true - Jesus will be in Ghenna with us. 

Bible Dictionary: Gehenna - NT Hell - OT “Valley of Hinnom,” A place of burning torment and misery located near Jerusalem and where children were sacrificed to God. Catholic BN.

What? It says children were sacrificed to God - not to Moab or other gods. How would a fundamentalist take this?

Matthew 5:29 Jesus said: If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out, throw it away. It’s better to lose 1 of your members than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna.

Wow! Are you sure you want your teenage son to tear one of his eyes out because he felt "lust in his heart" for a pretty young girl?

Luke 12:5 Jesus said: I shall show you Who to fear. Be afraid of the One who after killing has the power to cast into Gehenna; yes, I tell you, be afraid of that One. Catholic

Why would Jesus emphasize Gehenna, the place of child-sacrifice to make His points? Isn’t Jesus showing right here to be afraid of God or of Himself? In the KJV, Hell is in the place of Gehenna. If the Catholic version is correct, then, Jesus’ Gehenna (Hell), was a fiery pit outside Jerusalem, and is now long extinct. Then Hell too is history and no longer exists. Some don’t want it that way, you say? Why the Gehenna not?

Matthew 5:32 Jesus said: Whoever divorces his wife causes her to commit adultery and who ever marry a divorced woman commits adultery.

Did you know that God is a divorcee? Jeremiah 3:8

What has been generously supplied for those who are still afraid to question.

Believers cannot question their beliefs. The paradox is: If they do question their belief - they prove not to truly believe it.

John 5:31 Jesus said: If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true. KJV

What is Jesus Christ saying here about Himself? Does He admit to being a liar when bearing witness of Himself? How would you spin it?

Luke 5:39 Jesus said: No one who has been drinking old wine desires new, for He says: The old is good.

This strongly suggests that Jesus desired old wine, the good stuff? I wonder how this C&V helps people who are alcoholic.

Matthew 11:19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said: Look, He (Jesus) is a glutton and a drunkard…. Catholic

Who, right here, is accused of being a what? Jesus is accused of being a drunkard? Obviously, Jesus loved His wine. Again, how does the Alcoholic Anonymous 12-step program handle this C&V?

John 5:41 Jesus said: I do not accept human praise… Catholic

Do the people who wrote Christian songs and church prayers know or believe these words spoken C&V by Jesus Christ? Have you ever tried to praise Jesus or God with praise in prayer?

John 5:45 Jesus said: I will not accuse you. The one who will accuse you is Moses…

What? Moses? This is strange! Where else is this ever claimed? So - who accuses you? God? Jesus? The Jews? Moses? How would an English or a law professor rate John’s writings? He is all over the place. 

Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. KJV

Does anybody understand this KJV, C&V?

Mark 6:4-7 Jesus couldn’t do many miracles in His homeland due to their lack of faith.

Must Jesus have a non-familiar audience before His miracles can be performed? This certainly shows some of Jesus' limitations. Who really knew Jesus better than the people in his homeland! It indicated that those who truly knew Jesus didn't much believe in Him. What else could it mean?

Mark 6:10 Jesus said: Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave from there. Catholic

Isn’t this Catholic version a somewhat strange C&V? I guess a "believer" would understand and obey this quality command.

Mark 6:11 Jesus said: When a place does not welcome or listen to you, leave there, shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them.

Does Jesus mean: If you don’t get your way with people, to testify and oppose them? Jesus is obviously not happy when He does not get His way.




Copyright ©2006 Gary DeVaney.
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