Theos-Talk Archives (December 2002 Message tt00168)

Thanks Steve,

I've read Josephus and I see how that would fit in. And yes, the temple
"cleansing" sure got peoples attention! But then, depending how much of
this story is really true, the entry into Jerusalem on a donkey with the
mobs throwing palms etc, etc would have started off this drawing of
attention to himself. Christianity certainly paints a different picture
of all this though.

Larry

On Mon, 02 Dec 2002 00:35:48 -0000 "Steve Stubbs" <stevestubbs@yahoo.com>
writes:
> --- In theos-talk@y..., Larry F Kolts <llkingston2@j...> wrote:
> > That's an interesting take on the story. Is that original with you 
> 
> or
> > something you read? I would be interested in reading more about 
> that
> > theory. 
> 
> I left the church 35 years ago, but wanted to discover the truth 
> about this ancient religion as a way of coming to terms with my 
> heritage. If you rereac the NT with what I said in mind, you may 
> see 
> it in a new light. J's "kingdom of heaven" is an Essene commune 
> writ 
> large, extending over the whole of Palestine. Read Josephus on the 
> Essenes and you will see what I mean. The commune idea was actually 
> 
> carried out on a small scale after his death, but he did not take 
> over the whole area. Josephus makes it clear people in the Essene 
> comunes who did not obey the rules were cast into outer darkness, 
> where they tended to slowly starve to death. Outer darkness was not 
> 
> a post mortem state. The idea of the healings and even the raising 
> from the dead was that J. had power over Satan, who in turn was the 
> secret force behind the Roman empire. Therefore it made sense of a 
> sort that he could bring down the empire by magical means. Of 
> course 
> as we all know, he was crucified instead.
> > 
> > Some see in Judas's betrayal an attempt to force the issue as it 
> were
> 
> Making a mess in the remple during the passover celebration was 
> clearly an attempt to force the issue with the priests, and it did 
> force the issue, since they were the ones who had him arrested. At 
> the time he is supposed to have said that a miracle would happen and 
> 
> 12 legions of angels would come to his defense, but the miracle did 
> not come. Kaplan saya Kabbalists were warned for centuries after 
> his 
> death that this sort of self delusion was a pitfall of doing 
> Merkabah 
> meditation.
> 
> There is a tradition preserved by one of the church fathers that 
> Judas was raising hard questions. They had been wandering around 
> for 
> all this time and no kingdom of heaven. Sp Jesus needed to make 
> something happen or lose credibility. According to THE ODES OF 
> SOLOMON the Jews then thought it a sin to tempt God, but that god 
> also had a responsibility not to push them too far. If God tested 
> them too sevelrely, then tempting God was permissible. That is the 
> meaning of the statement in The Lord's Prayer, "kead us not into 
> temptation." When the miracle did not happen, Jesus tried to tempt 
> God (this being permissible in this circumstance) and precipitate 
> it.
> 
> > and while Peter drew first blood, Jesus ended the matter and gave 
> up. 
> 
> He was a pacifist. He resolved this seeming absurdity by assuming 
> he 
> would be installed king via miracle, without anyone getting hurt.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to 
> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ 
> 
> 
> 


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