This topic sounds far too vast for one article - books are written about it, loads and loads of books, during the centuries, and I don't think I'm more expert than Scholars. However, there are truths I have learnt that have clarified these issues to me. I can't offer them as must-believe dogma, but perhaps they may bring new light and insight for someone else as well? I hope so.
In Mt.5:17 Jesus says, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." He is the Fulfillment of the Old. Matthew 1 lists 42 generations that were needed to give birth to Jesus, and that's why all the hustle and bustle concerning the purity of blood. John the Baptist was preparing the way for the Lord. He said: "He must become greater; I must become less." (John 3:30) And Jesus said: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." (Mt.11:11) In other words, John the Baptist was at the Threshold: he was the highest representative of the Old Testament religion, gone as far as it was possible on the way of the old covenant, and he was proclaiming the beginning of the new era, as reflected by the first sign of Christ, turning water into wine. Fig tree is often mentioned in the Gospels. Jesus saw Nathanael under the fig tree (John 1:43-50). He cursed the fig tree and it withered. This strange scene must be seen in the light of the parable of the barren fig tree. Other Gospels turn parable to real event. Now it is interesting to know that Bodhi tree under which Gautama Buddha achieved enlightenment, was in fact, Sacred Fig tree (Ficus religiosa)! Knowing this, biblical references make much more sense: it is the old path of initiation Nathanael had undergone, and which now had become fruitless.
Jesus was not only the fulfillment of the Jewish religion, but all old religions. St. Augustine even wrote: "What is now called the Christian religion already existed among the ancients, and was not lacking at the very beginnings of the human race. When Christ appeared in the flesh, the true religion already in existence received the name of Christian."Especially this is shown when the Magi from the East, Zoroastrian priests and astrologers, come to visit baby Jesus and bring him the best gifts of the old cultures, gold, frankincense, and myrrh - gifts, that Christianity adopted for its own cult. It is also undeniable fact, that Christianity - as well as Judaism - owes much to Zoroastrianism.
Besides, there were Jewish Christians who believed in virgin birth, but denied the divinity of Jesus. Quran also acknowledges the virgin birth, even though it strictly denies the divinity of Jesus. When the Apostes' Creed states that "He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary", it rather emphasizes Christ's origin as both divine and human being at the same time, than Mary's possible sexual integrity. Late Finnish Lutheran vicar, Voitto Viro, whose books I very much like, wrote in the 1960's: "Isn't it indifferent how Jesus was born, beside the point he was born!" And Malcolm Guite writes that it is possible to accept the truth of the mystery, without literally believing in a miracle. Anyway, the power of the most high did overshadow Mary and Joseph, so that a conception of Jesus was Sacrament.
Many people who believe in reincarnation, teach that Jesus was also reincarnated. However, Finnish theosophist and mystic, Pekka Ervast, whom I greatly honor (see the links on the sidebar), by the end of his life became convinced that this was not the case, but soul of Jesus had been kept pure and innocent in heaven - he took part of earthly life through his brothers, like prophet Zoroaster and Buddha.
Many people who believe in reincarnation, teach that Jesus was also reincarnated. However, Finnish theosophist and mystic, Pekka Ervast, whom I greatly honor (see the links on the sidebar), by the end of his life became convinced that this was not the case, but soul of Jesus had been kept pure and innocent in heaven - he took part of earthly life through his brothers, like prophet Zoroaster and Buddha.
Acts 10:38 and Mark 1:9-11 declare that Jesus became a Son of God in his baptism. Luke 3:22, a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased." Yet the latter part of the sentence is just harmonized with Mark and Matthew who say that; Many reliable manuscripts say "You are My Son, Today I have begotten You", leaning on Psalm 2:7. and it is repeated in Acts 13:33 and Hebrews 1:5 and 5:5. We celebrate the festival of the birth of Jesus, yet we have missed another birth that took place in river Jordan, a divine birth. Early Christians payed more attention to this spiritual birth than bodily one. The Son of Man was joined with the Son of God. During the three years Christ became more and more like human, Christ Jesus, the Son of Man, and Jesus became more and more like God, Jesus Christ, the Son of God. When Christ came down to earth, he died in spirit; Incarnation was already a form of self-sacrifice. Long before he was nailed on the cross, he was crucified in spirit and soul.
After his baptism, Jesus spent fourty days and fourty nights in the desert, fasting in solitude, because Christ had to adapt to his new bodily condition, and immadiately he confronted the temptations of earthly man. His mission on earth was in the beginning a triumphant glory, but by the end it was growing harder and harder, while the burden of his earthly body became heavier, culminating in Gethsemane, where Jesus was in anguish sweating like drops of blood. Angels had attended him (for example, Matthew 4:11), but now he himself needed help from an angel (Luke 22:43).
He had to fight against the might of death that threatened to take his body ahead of time. Also he was worried if humanity could follow him through the deed of Golgotha. It had to take place! It was Jesus, who chose Judas among the disciples and knew all the time what would come. Greek New Testament often uses a word "dei", "must", "it is necessary": "the Son of Man must suffer many things" (Mark 8:31). "The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father" (John 10:17-18). As St. Augustine said, if Christ had not died, death had not been conquered. When Pilate tried to release Jesus, adversaries were working through him, in order to prevent the inevitable. Words on the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?", are in fact, a triumphant exclamation. George M. Lamsa, native Aramaic speaker, translated: "My God, my God, for this I was spared!"
The Shroud of Turin is a proof of Resurrection. Latest research supports its authensity. Modern sciense is still unable to explain the image that corresponds to sufferings of Jesus as detailed in the Gospels. I think the natural process of combustion took place in supernatural speed, causing image on fabric. The Resurrection Body is not matter, it is a spiritual body. In the Gospels we see the process proceeding. Right after resurrection Jesus says to Mary Magdalene: "Do not hold on to me". But later he tells Thomas to reach out his hand and put it on his side. Jesus was able to come through the locked doors, and yet he could condense his body tangible. And he was changed: Neither Mary Magdalene nor other disciples recognized him immadiately. In the Book of Revelation he is grown to cosmic dimensions.
The Independant Church of Australia teaches that "through the event of Golgotha, the blood of Christ, the Sun God, entered into this world. This has been working, like a seed in the earth, for the last 2000 years."
And: "The resurrection gave to us the power to transform and redeem our physical bodies, so they become bodies of light once more. It was the great evolutionary turning point making it possible for us to change, from becoming further enmeshed in matter and materialism to realising our spiritual identity - first in mind, later in all parts of our being."
One way to approach what happened between Crucifixion and Resurrection, is depicted in the Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ (172:15-24). One does not need to take it literally, but with poetic freedom:
There was no need to reconcile the "wrath of God"; Atonement is based upon the love of God: "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins" (1 John 4:10). God revealed Himself in Jesus, and by following Jesus, man can understand the hidden God. That's how both Luther and John of the Cross thought.
What about Ascension? Christ had to withdraw in order not to make his disciples dependant on him. He used to stand before them, without, and now they had to find him and join him within, through the freedom of their hearts. Clouds are hovering between sky and earth, they belong to both realms. Christ's resurrection body attained its full capacity, it widened both to sky (or heaven) and earth, becoming omnipresent. "He is the Lord of the heavenly forces upon earth" utters the Creed of the Christian Community. By dying and rising again, Christ Jesus interweaved his divinity and humanity, uniting heavens and earth. A new sphere was created in Ascension: Heaven is spreading on earth through the sacraments. The merits of Christ's sacrificial deed are not yours automatically, you have to be open for it: Mass is a mystical instrument through which it works in the world.
Then what is the meaning of the Pentecost? Universal love born on earth at Golgotha, sets apostles on fire and warms them. The deed of Christ comes to life in their souls. They were able to see every heart and soul and say what each person needed to hear. God was no more found without, high in heavens, God had moved within every man. "Christ in you, the hope of glory", as St. Paul writes in his epistle to Colossians. Christ in us is the Holy Spirit.
There's one thing left to discuss, and that is the second coming, so much propagated by the Evangelicals. Greek word parousia used in this context, means more preicisely the presence that is revealed. Christ is coming in the "clouds" when individual men receive him in spirit, and their inner eyes are opened to see the etheric Christ. It is not coming from one place to another, it is a change in man. Christ wants to start a new step of progress in humankind. He's in a new relationship with humankind and religious life.
Signs of the end of the Age in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21: "Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down." Destruction of the temple is historical symbol of human development, everything that used to represent "temple" in the world will be demolished. "The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken." People direct their perceptions to material externality. "False Christs and false prophets will appear"... There are forces that are not from Christ. "Many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he'". Awakening of Ego, individual "I am" becoming aware of itself, leads to division - "you hear of wars and revolutions".
"The Son of Man" is the goal of humanity, for if Jesus was a man, we are certainly not, and when he's "coming in clouds", that is the state of possibilities; "the sign of the Son of Man in the sky" is something still anticipating - all requests for human dignity today. The Son of Man will be like the "lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other". This is enlightenment.
I realize I have only scratched the surface with my writing, but one has to start with something, and draw the line somewhere. And this topic is larger than life, just like Jesus Christ himself! If you read this, may the Lord Jesus Christ be with you!
See also: Ways of Christ, excellent source of information and reflections, in many languages!
After his baptism, Jesus spent fourty days and fourty nights in the desert, fasting in solitude, because Christ had to adapt to his new bodily condition, and immadiately he confronted the temptations of earthly man. His mission on earth was in the beginning a triumphant glory, but by the end it was growing harder and harder, while the burden of his earthly body became heavier, culminating in Gethsemane, where Jesus was in anguish sweating like drops of blood. Angels had attended him (for example, Matthew 4:11), but now he himself needed help from an angel (Luke 22:43).
He had to fight against the might of death that threatened to take his body ahead of time. Also he was worried if humanity could follow him through the deed of Golgotha. It had to take place! It was Jesus, who chose Judas among the disciples and knew all the time what would come. Greek New Testament often uses a word "dei", "must", "it is necessary": "the Son of Man must suffer many things" (Mark 8:31). "The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father" (John 10:17-18). As St. Augustine said, if Christ had not died, death had not been conquered. When Pilate tried to release Jesus, adversaries were working through him, in order to prevent the inevitable. Words on the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?", are in fact, a triumphant exclamation. George M. Lamsa, native Aramaic speaker, translated: "My God, my God, for this I was spared!" When the Savior Christ Jesus was crucified His body was pierced in five places; in the five centers where the currents of the vital body flow; and the pressure of the crown of thorns caused a flow from the sixth also. (This is a hint to those who already know these currents. A full elucidation of this matter cannot be publicly given out at this time.)Few lines ahead he continues to explain, how the "tremendous wave of spiritual sunlight flooded the earth":
Like all rapid and high vibrations of light, this great wave blinded the people by its dazzling brilliance, therefore it was said that "the Sun was darkened." The very opposite was what actually occurred. The Sun was not darkened, but shone out in glorious splendor.
The Shroud of Turin is a proof of Resurrection. Latest research supports its authensity. Modern sciense is still unable to explain the image that corresponds to sufferings of Jesus as detailed in the Gospels. I think the natural process of combustion took place in supernatural speed, causing image on fabric. The Resurrection Body is not matter, it is a spiritual body. In the Gospels we see the process proceeding. Right after resurrection Jesus says to Mary Magdalene: "Do not hold on to me". But later he tells Thomas to reach out his hand and put it on his side. Jesus was able to come through the locked doors, and yet he could condense his body tangible. And he was changed: Neither Mary Magdalene nor other disciples recognized him immadiately. In the Book of Revelation he is grown to cosmic dimensions. The Independant Church of Australia teaches that "through the event of Golgotha, the blood of Christ, the Sun God, entered into this world. This has been working, like a seed in the earth, for the last 2000 years."
And: "The resurrection gave to us the power to transform and redeem our physical bodies, so they become bodies of light once more. It was the great evolutionary turning point making it possible for us to change, from becoming further enmeshed in matter and materialism to realising our spiritual identity - first in mind, later in all parts of our being."
One way to approach what happened between Crucifixion and Resurrection, is depicted in the Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ (172:15-24). One does not need to take it literally, but with poetic freedom:
"Now, Jesus did not sleep within the tomb. The body is the manifest of soul; but soul is soul without its manifest. And in the realm of souls, unmanifest, the Lord went forth and taught. He opened up the prison doors and set the prisoners free; He broke the chains of captive souls, and led the captives to the light; He sat in council with the patriarchs and prophets of the olden times; The masters of all times and climes he met, and in the great assemblies he stood forth and told the story of his life on earth, and of his death in sacrifice for man, And of his promises to clothe himself again in garb of flesh and walk with his disciples, just to prove the possibilities of man; To give to them the key of life, of death, and of the resurrection of the dead. In council all the masters sat and talked about the revelations of the coming age, When she, the Holy Breath, shall fill the earth and air with holy breath, and open up the way of man to perfectness and endless life."Jewish idea of afterlife, Sheol, was equivalent to that of the Greeks, namely Hades. Ecclesiastes 9:10 describes the place: "for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom." And 9:2: "All share a common destiny—the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad, the clean and the unclean, those who offer sacrifices and those who do not." Nowadays those who have had near-death experiences, often tell about meeting with the Being of Light radiating love!
There was no need to reconcile the "wrath of God"; Atonement is based upon the love of God: "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins" (1 John 4:10). God revealed Himself in Jesus, and by following Jesus, man can understand the hidden God. That's how both Luther and John of the Cross thought.
What about Ascension? Christ had to withdraw in order not to make his disciples dependant on him. He used to stand before them, without, and now they had to find him and join him within, through the freedom of their hearts. Clouds are hovering between sky and earth, they belong to both realms. Christ's resurrection body attained its full capacity, it widened both to sky (or heaven) and earth, becoming omnipresent. "He is the Lord of the heavenly forces upon earth" utters the Creed of the Christian Community. By dying and rising again, Christ Jesus interweaved his divinity and humanity, uniting heavens and earth. A new sphere was created in Ascension: Heaven is spreading on earth through the sacraments. The merits of Christ's sacrificial deed are not yours automatically, you have to be open for it: Mass is a mystical instrument through which it works in the world.
Then what is the meaning of the Pentecost? Universal love born on earth at Golgotha, sets apostles on fire and warms them. The deed of Christ comes to life in their souls. They were able to see every heart and soul and say what each person needed to hear. God was no more found without, high in heavens, God had moved within every man. "Christ in you, the hope of glory", as St. Paul writes in his epistle to Colossians. Christ in us is the Holy Spirit.
There's one thing left to discuss, and that is the second coming, so much propagated by the Evangelicals. Greek word parousia used in this context, means more preicisely the presence that is revealed. Christ is coming in the "clouds" when individual men receive him in spirit, and their inner eyes are opened to see the etheric Christ. It is not coming from one place to another, it is a change in man. Christ wants to start a new step of progress in humankind. He's in a new relationship with humankind and religious life.
Signs of the end of the Age in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21: "Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down." Destruction of the temple is historical symbol of human development, everything that used to represent "temple" in the world will be demolished. "The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken." People direct their perceptions to material externality. "False Christs and false prophets will appear"... There are forces that are not from Christ. "Many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he'". Awakening of Ego, individual "I am" becoming aware of itself, leads to division - "you hear of wars and revolutions".
"The Son of Man" is the goal of humanity, for if Jesus was a man, we are certainly not, and when he's "coming in clouds", that is the state of possibilities; "the sign of the Son of Man in the sky" is something still anticipating - all requests for human dignity today. The Son of Man will be like the "lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other". This is enlightenment.
I realize I have only scratched the surface with my writing, but one has to start with something, and draw the line somewhere. And this topic is larger than life, just like Jesus Christ himself! If you read this, may the Lord Jesus Christ be with you!
See also: Ways of Christ, excellent source of information and reflections, in many languages!
