Jesus Taught by Shocking Statements (Contd):
Satan as Adversary: We have seen in the last Post how Peter was severely rebuked by Jesus going to the extent of calling him Satan, although it was addressed to the wrong spirit in him, because he could think only as humans do and not as God thinks! One might be tempted to ask whether it is a crime to think as humans think, as we are human beings, and whether it is possible to think as God thinks. Peter as well as all the true disciples of Jesus are expected to think not as mere humans, but as representatives of God for which they are given powers including the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, in the case of Peter. Jesus reminded Peter and the other disciples how he was going to be the true Messiah by his suffering, death and resurrection in Jerusalem. Peter was very strongly reprimanded by Jesus for taking up the role of Satan in trying to dissuade him from his true mission. Only Satan could have put it into the mind of Peter, who was admitted to the secret realms of God Himself just a moment ago, to deter Jesus from accomplishing the decisive victory over him who ruled as the prince of the world till then. It gave an opportunity to Jesus to teach the fundamental lesson of discipleship to all those who wanted to follow him. "Then he called the people to him, as well as his disciples, and said to them, 'Anyone who wishes to be a follower of mine must leave self behind; he must take up his cross, and come with me. Whoever cares for his own safety is lost; but if a man will let himself be lost for my sake and for the Gospel, that man is safe. What does a man gain by winning the whole world at the cost of his true self? What can he give to buy that self back?' " (Mark, 8: 34-37).
Servant of All: Jesus experienced how difficult it was to make the humans think as God thinks. As it was his habit, Jesus was teaching his disciples even while on a journey through Galilee about the need of his being given up to the power of men who would kill him and three days afterwards he would rise again. Although the disciples did not understand what he meant, no one dared to ask him as their minds were preoccupied with concerns totally alien to the spirit of Jesus. When they reached Capernaum and entered a house, Jesus asked them what they were discussing on the way. All of them were silent as they were discussing on the way who was the greatest. "He sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, 'If anyone wants to be first, he must make himself last of all and servant of all' " (Mark, 9:35). One is inclined to ask immediately whether that would make one the first of all! This shows that the natural tendency of the humans is to lord it over others by hook or crook and be the ruler of everyone in the manner of a potentate. It is a very dangerous attitude spiritually and therefore has to be got rid of without a moment's delay. Jesus here prescribes the right remedy for this fundamental malady of the human mind taking away from God's way of thinking. In order to get back to God's way of thinking what one has to do is to be last of all and servant of all!
Child as the Model: Jesus used the occasion to present a model by placing a child before them and asking them to learn from the child. Another shocking statement followed: " 'I tell you this: unless you turn round and become like children, you will never enter the Kingdom of heaven. Let a man humble himself till he is like this child, and he will be the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven' " (Matthew, 18: 3-4). The child is made not only a model for the disciples to imitate, but also a representative of Jesus. " 'Whoever receives one of these children in my name', he said, 'receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me' " (Mark, 9: 37). Immediately after this injunction, according to Luke, Jesus directly answered the problem that was agitating the minds of the disciples. He added: "For the least among you all - he is the greatest" (Luke, 9: 48). In the Gospel according to Mark, the disciples were only discussing on the way who was the greatest among them overhearing which Jesus quietly taught them the meaning of greatness. In the Gospel according to Matthew, the disciples went to Jesus and asked him who was the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven to which Jesus answered by saying that the one who humbles himself till he becomes like a child is the greatest in heaven. In the Gospel according to Luke, a dispute arose among the disciples as to who was the greatest among them to which Jesus gave the direct reply that the least is the greatest. Now it should be clear to us how God thinks as against the thinking of the humans. God thinks for the real welfare of the humans, while the latter are mesmerized by appearances after which they run!
Avoid Scandal: Jesus is very clear on how we should avoid giving scandal to one of the little ones who have faith besides taking drastic steps to shun sinful situations. It would be better for someone to be thrown into the sea with a millstone round his neck if that could prevent him from giving scandal to the little ones who have faith. Similarly, it would be better for a person to cut off his hand, foot or pluck out an eye if that would help him turn away from sinful situations. The simple reason behind this shocking and drastic step recommended by Jesus is that it is better for that person to enter into life maimed or enter into the Kingdom of God with one eye than being thrown into hell in a physically wholesome condition (See Mark, 9: 42-48). As mentioned at the beginning of these statements, the purpose of shocking statements is to pull us out of our lethargy for understanding properly what is meant and not any literal interpretation.
Camel and the Eye of Needle: The next shocking statement from Jesus was occasioned by the interesting case of the rich and law-abiding person who wanted to know what he should do to enter into eternal life. Since he kept all the commandments of God from his youth, he was eligible to enter into eternal life. However, as for perfection Jesus recommended to him the easiest way of selling everything he had and giving it to the poor. As for reward he was promised riches in heaven and on earth he was invited to follow Jesus. But the rich man went away with a heavy heart and a gloomy face, for he was a man of great wealth. At this Jesus looked at his disciples and wondered aloud how hard it would be for the wealthy to enter the Kingdom of God. As the disciples were amazed that Jesus should say this, a shocking statement took them by surprise. "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God" (Mark, 10: 24-25). There have been many interpretations of this passage in order to tone down the severity implied in the statement. However, it is clear from what follows that Jesus meant impossibility as against great difficulty, proposed by some Bible scholars, in entering the Kingdom of God. In the case of the rich man who was eligible to enter into eternal life, lack of detachment from his riches prevented him from amassing riches in heaven. If this was the case with a law-abiding good person, the disciples wondered aloud, how could anyone be saved? "Jesus looked at them and said. 'For men it is impossible, but not for God; everything is possible for God' " (Mark, 10: 27). [Please note that we have discussed in an earlier Post the distinction between 'Eternal Life' and 'The Kingdom of God']. (To be Contd).
Satan as Adversary: We have seen in the last Post how Peter was severely rebuked by Jesus going to the extent of calling him Satan, although it was addressed to the wrong spirit in him, because he could think only as humans do and not as God thinks! One might be tempted to ask whether it is a crime to think as humans think, as we are human beings, and whether it is possible to think as God thinks. Peter as well as all the true disciples of Jesus are expected to think not as mere humans, but as representatives of God for which they are given powers including the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, in the case of Peter. Jesus reminded Peter and the other disciples how he was going to be the true Messiah by his suffering, death and resurrection in Jerusalem. Peter was very strongly reprimanded by Jesus for taking up the role of Satan in trying to dissuade him from his true mission. Only Satan could have put it into the mind of Peter, who was admitted to the secret realms of God Himself just a moment ago, to deter Jesus from accomplishing the decisive victory over him who ruled as the prince of the world till then. It gave an opportunity to Jesus to teach the fundamental lesson of discipleship to all those who wanted to follow him. "Then he called the people to him, as well as his disciples, and said to them, 'Anyone who wishes to be a follower of mine must leave self behind; he must take up his cross, and come with me. Whoever cares for his own safety is lost; but if a man will let himself be lost for my sake and for the Gospel, that man is safe. What does a man gain by winning the whole world at the cost of his true self? What can he give to buy that self back?' " (Mark, 8: 34-37).
Servant of All: Jesus experienced how difficult it was to make the humans think as God thinks. As it was his habit, Jesus was teaching his disciples even while on a journey through Galilee about the need of his being given up to the power of men who would kill him and three days afterwards he would rise again. Although the disciples did not understand what he meant, no one dared to ask him as their minds were preoccupied with concerns totally alien to the spirit of Jesus. When they reached Capernaum and entered a house, Jesus asked them what they were discussing on the way. All of them were silent as they were discussing on the way who was the greatest. "He sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, 'If anyone wants to be first, he must make himself last of all and servant of all' " (Mark, 9:35). One is inclined to ask immediately whether that would make one the first of all! This shows that the natural tendency of the humans is to lord it over others by hook or crook and be the ruler of everyone in the manner of a potentate. It is a very dangerous attitude spiritually and therefore has to be got rid of without a moment's delay. Jesus here prescribes the right remedy for this fundamental malady of the human mind taking away from God's way of thinking. In order to get back to God's way of thinking what one has to do is to be last of all and servant of all!
Child as the Model: Jesus used the occasion to present a model by placing a child before them and asking them to learn from the child. Another shocking statement followed: " 'I tell you this: unless you turn round and become like children, you will never enter the Kingdom of heaven. Let a man humble himself till he is like this child, and he will be the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven' " (Matthew, 18: 3-4). The child is made not only a model for the disciples to imitate, but also a representative of Jesus. " 'Whoever receives one of these children in my name', he said, 'receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me' " (Mark, 9: 37). Immediately after this injunction, according to Luke, Jesus directly answered the problem that was agitating the minds of the disciples. He added: "For the least among you all - he is the greatest" (Luke, 9: 48). In the Gospel according to Mark, the disciples were only discussing on the way who was the greatest among them overhearing which Jesus quietly taught them the meaning of greatness. In the Gospel according to Matthew, the disciples went to Jesus and asked him who was the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven to which Jesus answered by saying that the one who humbles himself till he becomes like a child is the greatest in heaven. In the Gospel according to Luke, a dispute arose among the disciples as to who was the greatest among them to which Jesus gave the direct reply that the least is the greatest. Now it should be clear to us how God thinks as against the thinking of the humans. God thinks for the real welfare of the humans, while the latter are mesmerized by appearances after which they run!
Avoid Scandal: Jesus is very clear on how we should avoid giving scandal to one of the little ones who have faith besides taking drastic steps to shun sinful situations. It would be better for someone to be thrown into the sea with a millstone round his neck if that could prevent him from giving scandal to the little ones who have faith. Similarly, it would be better for a person to cut off his hand, foot or pluck out an eye if that would help him turn away from sinful situations. The simple reason behind this shocking and drastic step recommended by Jesus is that it is better for that person to enter into life maimed or enter into the Kingdom of God with one eye than being thrown into hell in a physically wholesome condition (See Mark, 9: 42-48). As mentioned at the beginning of these statements, the purpose of shocking statements is to pull us out of our lethargy for understanding properly what is meant and not any literal interpretation.
Camel and the Eye of Needle: The next shocking statement from Jesus was occasioned by the interesting case of the rich and law-abiding person who wanted to know what he should do to enter into eternal life. Since he kept all the commandments of God from his youth, he was eligible to enter into eternal life. However, as for perfection Jesus recommended to him the easiest way of selling everything he had and giving it to the poor. As for reward he was promised riches in heaven and on earth he was invited to follow Jesus. But the rich man went away with a heavy heart and a gloomy face, for he was a man of great wealth. At this Jesus looked at his disciples and wondered aloud how hard it would be for the wealthy to enter the Kingdom of God. As the disciples were amazed that Jesus should say this, a shocking statement took them by surprise. "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God" (Mark, 10: 24-25). There have been many interpretations of this passage in order to tone down the severity implied in the statement. However, it is clear from what follows that Jesus meant impossibility as against great difficulty, proposed by some Bible scholars, in entering the Kingdom of God. In the case of the rich man who was eligible to enter into eternal life, lack of detachment from his riches prevented him from amassing riches in heaven. If this was the case with a law-abiding good person, the disciples wondered aloud, how could anyone be saved? "Jesus looked at them and said. 'For men it is impossible, but not for God; everything is possible for God' " (Mark, 10: 27). [Please note that we have discussed in an earlier Post the distinction between 'Eternal Life' and 'The Kingdom of God']. (To be Contd).
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