Meriweather
Not all who wander are lost
- Oct 21, 2014
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Jesus didn't write the gospels. Everything he taught was Judaism. To Jews. Some of whom then started a non-Judaism religion.
Correct. The Gospels were written decades after Jesus' death and resurrection. At the time Christ lived Annas and Caiaphas (the High Priests) were probably among the most corrupt Jews that ever lived. Jesus scathing denouncement of Scribes and Pharisees were undoubtedly directed by these two and their followers, those who supported them in their positions of power. Years later, despite the goodness of most Pharisees (Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathaea) Jesus is seen as not boldly (even foolishly speaking out against current leadership and politics), he is seen as denouncing faithful Jews.
These corrupt leaders were insisting that the poor, barely able to sustain themselves, continue to contribute to the Temple and to Rome (or be considered little better than lepers). Jesus was incensed to see the rich contributing their surplus riches while faithful widows were contributing pennies they could ill afford. Yet the rich did nothing to relieve the burden. Couldn't afford the meat or even grain offering needed for forgiveness of sins? Not the problem of the rich. Their sins, of course, were forgiven.
So, along comes Jesus assuring the poverty stricken: "Your sins ARE forgiven." (Any wonder why the Temple authorities wanted to discredit/remove Jesus? Someone convincing people they didn't need to make any offerings to the Temple in order for their sins to be forgiven was endangering the income (not to mention the power) of the wealthy?
Jesus insisted he came for the forgotten and lost of the House of Israel. The poverty stricken, under the rule of Annas and Caiaphas and Rome were certainly lost and forgotten by them--but not by Jesus. Jesus should be one of the great Jewish heroes. Unfortunately, when the powerful tried to squelch Jesus and Christianity, by the time Christianity gained strength, it had turned into all Jews against all Christians. That, while perhaps understandable, should still be humiliating to all. Too much was forgotten--but remnants of these facts and truths can still be found in the Gospels.