The Jesus Puzzle

[Thomas Cranmer]

We all know that Jesus had special powers that allowed him to fix problems.

When he wanted to board a boat that was out at sea, he walked on the water.
When he bumped into people that were possessed by evil spirits, he flushed them out.
When his friend Lazarus died, he reanimated him (where is he now?).
When 4000 or 5000 people went to a picnic with very little food, he duplicated the food many times.
He was never caught short (assumed).

Jesus sometimes didn't use his powers.

He was kidnapped by the Devil who is supposedly less powerful (Matthew 4:5-8).
He got sorrowful and troubled in Gethsemane about his future prospects (Matthew 26:37).
He got hungry in the desert (Matthew 4:2).
He got hungry as he was leaving Bethany (Mark 11:12).
He got thirsty whilst being crucified (John 19:28).
He sometimes had to hide from the Jews (John 8:59).
He was arrested (Luke 22:54).

So why was he selective?

 

[DaveC426913]

Oh for Pete's Sake. The scriptures are not meant to have every single word taken literally.
Why do people keep tilting at this windmill?

 

[spidergoat]

Oh for Pete's Sake. The scriptures are not meant to have every single word taken literally.
Why do people keep tilting at this windmill?

But how do you know what is literal and what is not? Doesn't that make it unreliable?

 

[DaveC426913]

But how do you know what is literal and what is not? Doesn't that make it unreliable?

Which is why one goes to church, to learn.

 

[spidergoat]

Which is why one goes to church, to learn.

How do they know?

 

[DaveC426913]

How do they know?

Don't ask me.

It's up to the individuals to decide to trust their authorities.

Frankly, it's not much worse than public school systems.The horrors stories of ignorance I've heard...

 

[timojin]

We all know that Jesus had special powers that allowed him to fix problems.

When he wanted to board a boat that was out at sea, he walked on the water.
When he bumped into people that were possessed by evil spirits, he flushed them out.
When his friend Lazarus died, he reanimated him (where is he now?).
When 4000 or 5000 people went to a picnic with very little food, he duplicated the food many times.
He was never caught short (assumed).

Jesus sometimes didn't use his powers.

He was kidnapped by the Devil who is supposedly less powerful (Matthew 4:5-8).
He got sorrowful and troubled in Gethsemane about his future prospects (Matthew 26:37).
He got hungry in the desert (Matthew 4:2).
He got hungry as he was leaving Bethany (Mark 11:12).
He got thirsty whilst being crucified (John 19:28).
He sometimes had to hide from the Jews (John 8:59).
He was arrested (Luke 22:54).



So why was he selective?

In one situation He showed the power Father give Him and He had a mission
In the other situation He showed He was human flesh

 

[exchemist]

We all know that Jesus had special powers that allowed him to fix problems.

When he wanted to board a boat that was out at sea, he walked on the water.
When he bumped into people that were possessed by evil spirits, he flushed them out.
When his friend Lazarus died, he reanimated him (where is he now?).
When 4000 or 5000 people went to a picnic with very little food, he duplicated the food many times.
He was never caught short (assumed).

Jesus sometimes didn't use his powers.

He was kidnapped by the Devil who is supposedly less powerful (Matthew 4:5-8).
He got sorrowful and troubled in Gethsemane about his future prospects (Matthew 26:37).
He got hungry in the desert (Matthew 4:2).
He got hungry as he was leaving Bethany (Mark 11:12).
He got thirsty whilst being crucified (John 19:28).
He sometimes had to hide from the Jews (John 8:59).
He was arrested (Luke 22:54).

So why was he selective?

I say, you're not much good at being Cranmer, are you?

If you know your Christianity, you will know that Jesus was supposed to be the embodiment of God on earth, as a man like us. So the gospels naturally contain stories indicating that he felt the same human feelings as us, as well as others in which he uses the supernatural powers of God, when he wants to make a point.

If you don't know your Christianity, you look rather a fool for choosing Cranmer as your nom de plume.

 

[spidergoat]

Don't ask me.

It's up to the individuals to decide to trust their authorities.

Frankly, it's not much worse than public school systems.The horrors stories of ignorance I've heard...

I think the question is far more serious. The ambiguity of what is literal and what not undermines the Bible as a source of authority. It leaves the question up to flawed human interpretation, and I doubt that is the action of an omniscient power.