Post by iris89 on Jun 19, 2007 14:12:11 GMT -5
Christ Proved His Great Love For Mankind: [q]
INTRODUCTION:
In Proverbs 8:30-31 the inspired word of Almighty God (YHWH), the Bible showed Jesus (Yeshua)delighted in mankind, "Then I was by him, as a master workman; And I was daily his delight, Rejoicing always before him, 31 Rejoicing in his habitable earth; And my delight was with the sons of men." (American Standard Version; ASV).
During his ministry on earth, great crowds followed him around and he did many healings and other miracles including resurrections. Even in the few days before he was wrongly arrested and executed, when he entered into Jerusalem, he was hailed by the crowds during his triumphal entry into Jerusalem as the divinely appointed king. The common folk loved him greatly due to compassion, wonderful speech, and his many moracles.
However, most of the religious leaders of the day hated him, and all the more so as they could not deny his miracles. Their jealousy and hate of him grew very great, and they conspired together to get rid of him. He was interfering with their personal agendas and showing their doctrines and traditions ran counter to the word of God, the Bible. In this, they are the same as the religious leaders of our day that give lip service to their respective "holy book," but who teach their own traditions and personal agendas. Those who think that their religious leaders are teaching them from either the Bible or the Bible knockoff the Qur'an are in error. No! The religious leaders be they priest and/or imams or muftis or what ever teach the people only an incorrect, personal agenda, interpretation of what is written either in the Bible or the bible knockoff the Qur'an that matters and governs actions. It matters not what the Bible and/or the Bible knockoff really say. People go by what they are taught by their religious leaders. Take the genocide committed by the Roman Catholic Church at the direction of their supreme religious leader, the pope, what mattered was not that the Bible clearly said at Exodus 20:13, "Thou shalt not kill." (ASV), but what their religious leaders told them. Therefore, it is the religion at fault, irregardless of what their particular holy book, be it the Bible or the Bible knockoff the Qur'an may say. Neither in so called Christianity or in Islam are most individuals actions really governed in any way by what their particular holy book really says, but they are governed by the interpretation of their religious leaders. Thus, knowing this reality, one would be either just plain stupid and/or dumb to even bother looking at a particular religion's holy book and expect the members would conform to it. Take the Rig Vede and find me for example a Hindu actually conforming to it instead of the interpretation given to it by his religious leaders, like looking for a needle in the haystack per K.S. Lal, India's greatest historian.
In ancient Jerusalem, the religious leaders wipped the crowds into an angry anti-Jesus (Yeshua) mob and gathered outside the governor's palace at dawn on Passover of 33 CE per John 18:28-19:15, "They lead Jesus therefore from Caiaphas into the Praetorium: and it was early; and they themselves entered not into the Praetorium, that they might not be defiled, but might eat the passover. 29 Pilate therefore went out unto them, and saith, What accusation bring ye against this man? 30 They answered and said unto him, If this man were not an evildoer, we should not have delivered him up unto thee. 31 Pilate therefore said unto them, Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law. The Jews said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death: 32 that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying by what manner of death he should die. 33 Pilate therefore entered again into the Praetorium, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews? 34 Jesus answered, Sayest thou this of thyself, or did others tell it thee concerning me? 35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? 36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. 37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end have I been born, and to this end am I come into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. 38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find no crime in him. 39 But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews? 40 They cried out therefore again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.) 1 Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him. 2 And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and arrayed him in a purple garment; 3 and they came unto him, and said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they struck him with their hands. 4 And Pilate went out again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him out to you, that ye may know that I find no crime in him. 5 Jesus therefore came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple garment. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold, the man! 6 When therefore the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him! Pilate saith unto them, Take him yourselves, and crucify him: for I find no crime in him. 7 The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by that law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God. 8 When Pilate therefore heard this saying, he was the more afraid; 9 and he entered into the Praetorium again, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 Pilate therefore saith unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? Knowest thou not that I have power to release thee, and have power to crucify thee? 11 Jesus answered him, Thou wouldest have no power against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath greater sin. 12 Upon this Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou release this man, thou art not Caesar's friend: every one that maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar. 13 When Pilate therefore heard these words, he brought Jesus out, and sat down on the judgment-seat at a place called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. 14 Now it was the Preparation of the passover: it was about the sixth hour. And he saith unto the Jews, Behold, your King! 15 They therefore cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him! Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar." (ASV).
Jesus (Yeshua), however, with dignity and courage endured the humiliation and suffering without complaint showing his willingness to submit to a painful death on a torture stake per John 19:17-18, "They took Jesus therefore: and he went out, bearing the cross for himself, unto the place called The place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha: 18 where they crucified him, and with him two others, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst." (ASV).
WHY WAS IT NECESSARY FOR JESUS (YESHUA) TO SUFFER AND DIE?
First consider what Jesus (Yeshua) said at John 15:13, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (ASV) showing the ultimate with respect love of neighbor in accordance with Matthew 22:39, "And the second is like it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." (ASV).
As the foretold Messiah, Jesus (Yeshua) well knew what was to take place as he was aware of the many prophecies concerning in detail what the Messiah would suffer and of the painful death of the Messiah such as Isaiah 53:3-12, "Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out his soul unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors: yet he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." (ASV); and Daniel 9:26, "And after the threescore and two weeks shall the anointed one be cut off, and shall have nothing: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and even unto the end shall be war; desolations are determined." (ASV); etc.
In fact, on his way to Jerusalem for his final Passover, he specifically told his apostles at Mark 10:33-34, "saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests and the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him unto the Gentiles: 34 and they shall mock him, and shall spit upon him, and shall scourge him, and shall kill him; and after three days he shall rise again." (ASV).
Now, why was it necessary for Jesus (Yeshua) to suffer and die? Specifically there are three main reasons as follows:
First - He needed to prove his integrity and uphold Almighty God's (YHWH's) sovereignty to answer the false claim of Satan the Devil made at Job 2:1-5, "Again it came to pass on the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah, that Satan came also among them to present himself before Jehovah.
2 And Jehovah said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered Jehovah, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 3 And Jehovah said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job? for there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and turneth away from evil: and he still holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. 4 And Satan answered Jehovah, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. 5 But put forth thy hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will renounce thee to thy face." (ASV). In this challenge, Satan was saying that humans serve Almighty God (YHWH) out of selfish interest and Jesus (Yeshua) had to prove him a liar by him, a perfect man, showing that this was not the case. As shown at Philippians 2:8, Jesus (Yeshua) gave the most conclusive answer to this baseless charge, "and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross." (ASV).
Second, So his death could provide an atonement for the sins of others per Isaiah 53:5, "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."; and Isaiah 53:10, "Yet it pleased Jehovah to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of Jehovah shall prosper in his hand." (ASV); and Daniel 9:24, "Seventy weeks are decreed upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy." (ASV). This attoning sacrifice of Jesus (Yeshua) opened up the way for us to have an approved relationship with Almighty God (YHWH) per Matthew 20:28, "even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." (ASV).
Third, Also, by enduring all types of sufferings and hardships, Jesus (Yeshua) was thoroughly tested and can sympathize with our weaknesses per Hebrews 2:17-18, "Wherefore it behooved him in all things to be made like unto his brethren, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted." (ASV); and Hebrews 4:15, "For we have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but one that hath been in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." (ASV).
UNSELFISH COURSE OF JESUS (YESHUA):
Jesus (Yeshua) outlined his unselfish course at Matthew 16:24-26, "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whosoever would save his life shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it. 26 For what shall a man be profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? or what shall a man give in exchange for his life?" (ASV).
He lead by example by giving up his life on our behalf and being subject to intense suffering and a painful death per Philippians 2:5-7, "Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men;" (ASV); clearly showing he emptied himself of his superior position in heaven in the spirit form the same as Almighty God (YHWH) and took the form of a man who would die as a ransom sacrifice for all of us.
He was not concerned about himself but was filled with intense love for his heavenly Father, Almighty God (YHWH) as showed in his Sermon on the Mount at Matthew 6:9, "After this manner therefore pray ye. Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name." (ASV); he wanted his Father's name to be sanctified or hallowed - not his own. He well knew that his integrity would play a major part in the sanctifying of his Father's great name as shown at 1 Chronicles 29:13, "Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name." (ASV).
JESUS (YESHUA) WAS SELF-SACRIFICING:
As followers of Jesus (Yeshua), we must have lave among us per John 13:34-35, "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; even as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." (ASV). and Jesus (Yeshua) made this ever clearer at John 15:12-13, "This is my commandment, that ye love one another, even as I have loved you. 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (ASV).
Now why is self-sacrificing a worthwhile course? Well, Mark 10:23-30 says, "And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 24 And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 26 And they were astonished exceedingly, saying unto him, Then who can be saved? 27 Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for all things are possible with God. 28 Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. 29 Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or mother, or father, or children, or lands, for my sake, and for the gospel's sake, 30 but he shall receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life." (ASV).
We should imitate Jesus in showing self-sacrificing love as pointed out at, 1 John 3:17-18, "But whoso hath the world's goods, and beholdeth his brother in need, and shutteth up his compassion from him, how doth the love of God abide in him? 18 My Little children, let us not love in word, neither with the tongue; but in deed and truth." (ASV). One way of doing this is by not engaging in warfare when the nations go to war and thus bringing injury and death to others per John 17:14-16, "I have given them thy word; and the world hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them from the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world even as I am not of the world." (ASV); and 1 John 3:10-12, "In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. 11 For this is the message which ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another: 12 not as Cain was of the evil one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his works were evil, and his brother's righteous." (ASV).
Whereas, the religious leaders of this world teach and inbreed in their followers, not the words of the Father of Jesus (Yeshua) per John 12:49-50, "For I spake not from myself; but the Father that sent me, he hath given me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is life eternal: the things therefore which I speak, even as the Father hath said unto me, so I speak." (ASV). Instead of inbreeding love for fellow man, these religious leaders of this world inbreed false doctrines and traditions and their own personal agendas. Some religious leaders in Islam not only inbreed their personal agendas, but inbreed hate, greed, and a lust for violence. Almost every day in the world news you hear of an Islamic suicide bomber blowing himself/herself up and trying to take as many with him/her as possible - inbreed extreme lust for violence. In fact, one well known Sheik, [in Islam, a. A religious official. b. A leader of an Arab family or village. c. Used as a form of address for such an official or leader. Per The American Heritage(r) Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition.] said on a video tape played on Al Jazzera TV station that there was no greater honor for Islam than for one to commit suicide and take as many infidels with him/her as possible [Sheik Usama bin Ladin]. This clearly shows the hate, greed, and a lust for violence that many religious leaders are inbreeding in their members and the world news daily confirms this - many however deny reality.
SELF-SACRIFICING LOVE PLEASES ALMIGHTY GOD (YHWH):
Self-sacrificing love pleases Almighty God (YHWH) as shown at 2 Corinthians 12:15, "And I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved the less?" (ASV). In fact unselfish efforts will also be appreciated by like faithful followers of Jesus (Yeshua) Christ as shown by Philippians 2:29, "Receive him therefore in the Lord with all joy; and hold such in honor:" (ASV); and Hebrews 6:10, "for God is not unrighteous to forget your work and the love which ye showed toward his name, in that ye ministered unto the saints, and still do minister." (ASV).
Jesus (Yeshua) proved himself a fine shepherd of his followers as shown at John 10:11-15, "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep. 12 He that is a hireling, and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, beholdeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth, and the wolf snatcheth them, and scattereth them: 13 he fleeth because he is a hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
14 I am the good shepherd; and I know mine own, and mine own know me, 15 even as the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep." (ASV).
Your Friend in Christ Iris89
INTRODUCTION:
In Proverbs 8:30-31 the inspired word of Almighty God (YHWH), the Bible showed Jesus (Yeshua)delighted in mankind, "Then I was by him, as a master workman; And I was daily his delight, Rejoicing always before him, 31 Rejoicing in his habitable earth; And my delight was with the sons of men." (American Standard Version; ASV).
During his ministry on earth, great crowds followed him around and he did many healings and other miracles including resurrections. Even in the few days before he was wrongly arrested and executed, when he entered into Jerusalem, he was hailed by the crowds during his triumphal entry into Jerusalem as the divinely appointed king. The common folk loved him greatly due to compassion, wonderful speech, and his many moracles.
However, most of the religious leaders of the day hated him, and all the more so as they could not deny his miracles. Their jealousy and hate of him grew very great, and they conspired together to get rid of him. He was interfering with their personal agendas and showing their doctrines and traditions ran counter to the word of God, the Bible. In this, they are the same as the religious leaders of our day that give lip service to their respective "holy book," but who teach their own traditions and personal agendas. Those who think that their religious leaders are teaching them from either the Bible or the Bible knockoff the Qur'an are in error. No! The religious leaders be they priest and/or imams or muftis or what ever teach the people only an incorrect, personal agenda, interpretation of what is written either in the Bible or the bible knockoff the Qur'an that matters and governs actions. It matters not what the Bible and/or the Bible knockoff really say. People go by what they are taught by their religious leaders. Take the genocide committed by the Roman Catholic Church at the direction of their supreme religious leader, the pope, what mattered was not that the Bible clearly said at Exodus 20:13, "Thou shalt not kill." (ASV), but what their religious leaders told them. Therefore, it is the religion at fault, irregardless of what their particular holy book, be it the Bible or the Bible knockoff the Qur'an may say. Neither in so called Christianity or in Islam are most individuals actions really governed in any way by what their particular holy book really says, but they are governed by the interpretation of their religious leaders. Thus, knowing this reality, one would be either just plain stupid and/or dumb to even bother looking at a particular religion's holy book and expect the members would conform to it. Take the Rig Vede and find me for example a Hindu actually conforming to it instead of the interpretation given to it by his religious leaders, like looking for a needle in the haystack per K.S. Lal, India's greatest historian.
In ancient Jerusalem, the religious leaders wipped the crowds into an angry anti-Jesus (Yeshua) mob and gathered outside the governor's palace at dawn on Passover of 33 CE per John 18:28-19:15, "They lead Jesus therefore from Caiaphas into the Praetorium: and it was early; and they themselves entered not into the Praetorium, that they might not be defiled, but might eat the passover. 29 Pilate therefore went out unto them, and saith, What accusation bring ye against this man? 30 They answered and said unto him, If this man were not an evildoer, we should not have delivered him up unto thee. 31 Pilate therefore said unto them, Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law. The Jews said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death: 32 that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying by what manner of death he should die. 33 Pilate therefore entered again into the Praetorium, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews? 34 Jesus answered, Sayest thou this of thyself, or did others tell it thee concerning me? 35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? 36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. 37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end have I been born, and to this end am I come into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. 38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find no crime in him. 39 But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews? 40 They cried out therefore again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.) 1 Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him. 2 And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and arrayed him in a purple garment; 3 and they came unto him, and said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they struck him with their hands. 4 And Pilate went out again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him out to you, that ye may know that I find no crime in him. 5 Jesus therefore came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple garment. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold, the man! 6 When therefore the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him! Pilate saith unto them, Take him yourselves, and crucify him: for I find no crime in him. 7 The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by that law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God. 8 When Pilate therefore heard this saying, he was the more afraid; 9 and he entered into the Praetorium again, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 Pilate therefore saith unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? Knowest thou not that I have power to release thee, and have power to crucify thee? 11 Jesus answered him, Thou wouldest have no power against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath greater sin. 12 Upon this Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou release this man, thou art not Caesar's friend: every one that maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar. 13 When Pilate therefore heard these words, he brought Jesus out, and sat down on the judgment-seat at a place called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. 14 Now it was the Preparation of the passover: it was about the sixth hour. And he saith unto the Jews, Behold, your King! 15 They therefore cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him! Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar." (ASV).
Jesus (Yeshua), however, with dignity and courage endured the humiliation and suffering without complaint showing his willingness to submit to a painful death on a torture stake per John 19:17-18, "They took Jesus therefore: and he went out, bearing the cross for himself, unto the place called The place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha: 18 where they crucified him, and with him two others, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst." (ASV).
WHY WAS IT NECESSARY FOR JESUS (YESHUA) TO SUFFER AND DIE?
First consider what Jesus (Yeshua) said at John 15:13, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (ASV) showing the ultimate with respect love of neighbor in accordance with Matthew 22:39, "And the second is like it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." (ASV).
As the foretold Messiah, Jesus (Yeshua) well knew what was to take place as he was aware of the many prophecies concerning in detail what the Messiah would suffer and of the painful death of the Messiah such as Isaiah 53:3-12, "Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out his soul unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors: yet he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." (ASV); and Daniel 9:26, "And after the threescore and two weeks shall the anointed one be cut off, and shall have nothing: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and even unto the end shall be war; desolations are determined." (ASV); etc.
In fact, on his way to Jerusalem for his final Passover, he specifically told his apostles at Mark 10:33-34, "saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests and the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him unto the Gentiles: 34 and they shall mock him, and shall spit upon him, and shall scourge him, and shall kill him; and after three days he shall rise again." (ASV).
Now, why was it necessary for Jesus (Yeshua) to suffer and die? Specifically there are three main reasons as follows:
First - He needed to prove his integrity and uphold Almighty God's (YHWH's) sovereignty to answer the false claim of Satan the Devil made at Job 2:1-5, "Again it came to pass on the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah, that Satan came also among them to present himself before Jehovah.
2 And Jehovah said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered Jehovah, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 3 And Jehovah said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job? for there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and turneth away from evil: and he still holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. 4 And Satan answered Jehovah, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. 5 But put forth thy hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will renounce thee to thy face." (ASV). In this challenge, Satan was saying that humans serve Almighty God (YHWH) out of selfish interest and Jesus (Yeshua) had to prove him a liar by him, a perfect man, showing that this was not the case. As shown at Philippians 2:8, Jesus (Yeshua) gave the most conclusive answer to this baseless charge, "and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross." (ASV).
Second, So his death could provide an atonement for the sins of others per Isaiah 53:5, "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."; and Isaiah 53:10, "Yet it pleased Jehovah to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of Jehovah shall prosper in his hand." (ASV); and Daniel 9:24, "Seventy weeks are decreed upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy." (ASV). This attoning sacrifice of Jesus (Yeshua) opened up the way for us to have an approved relationship with Almighty God (YHWH) per Matthew 20:28, "even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." (ASV).
Third, Also, by enduring all types of sufferings and hardships, Jesus (Yeshua) was thoroughly tested and can sympathize with our weaknesses per Hebrews 2:17-18, "Wherefore it behooved him in all things to be made like unto his brethren, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted." (ASV); and Hebrews 4:15, "For we have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but one that hath been in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." (ASV).
UNSELFISH COURSE OF JESUS (YESHUA):
Jesus (Yeshua) outlined his unselfish course at Matthew 16:24-26, "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whosoever would save his life shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it. 26 For what shall a man be profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? or what shall a man give in exchange for his life?" (ASV).
He lead by example by giving up his life on our behalf and being subject to intense suffering and a painful death per Philippians 2:5-7, "Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men;" (ASV); clearly showing he emptied himself of his superior position in heaven in the spirit form the same as Almighty God (YHWH) and took the form of a man who would die as a ransom sacrifice for all of us.
He was not concerned about himself but was filled with intense love for his heavenly Father, Almighty God (YHWH) as showed in his Sermon on the Mount at Matthew 6:9, "After this manner therefore pray ye. Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name." (ASV); he wanted his Father's name to be sanctified or hallowed - not his own. He well knew that his integrity would play a major part in the sanctifying of his Father's great name as shown at 1 Chronicles 29:13, "Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name." (ASV).
JESUS (YESHUA) WAS SELF-SACRIFICING:
As followers of Jesus (Yeshua), we must have lave among us per John 13:34-35, "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; even as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." (ASV). and Jesus (Yeshua) made this ever clearer at John 15:12-13, "This is my commandment, that ye love one another, even as I have loved you. 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (ASV).
Now why is self-sacrificing a worthwhile course? Well, Mark 10:23-30 says, "And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 24 And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 26 And they were astonished exceedingly, saying unto him, Then who can be saved? 27 Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for all things are possible with God. 28 Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. 29 Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or mother, or father, or children, or lands, for my sake, and for the gospel's sake, 30 but he shall receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life." (ASV).
We should imitate Jesus in showing self-sacrificing love as pointed out at, 1 John 3:17-18, "But whoso hath the world's goods, and beholdeth his brother in need, and shutteth up his compassion from him, how doth the love of God abide in him? 18 My Little children, let us not love in word, neither with the tongue; but in deed and truth." (ASV). One way of doing this is by not engaging in warfare when the nations go to war and thus bringing injury and death to others per John 17:14-16, "I have given them thy word; and the world hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them from the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world even as I am not of the world." (ASV); and 1 John 3:10-12, "In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. 11 For this is the message which ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another: 12 not as Cain was of the evil one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his works were evil, and his brother's righteous." (ASV).
Whereas, the religious leaders of this world teach and inbreed in their followers, not the words of the Father of Jesus (Yeshua) per John 12:49-50, "For I spake not from myself; but the Father that sent me, he hath given me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is life eternal: the things therefore which I speak, even as the Father hath said unto me, so I speak." (ASV). Instead of inbreeding love for fellow man, these religious leaders of this world inbreed false doctrines and traditions and their own personal agendas. Some religious leaders in Islam not only inbreed their personal agendas, but inbreed hate, greed, and a lust for violence. Almost every day in the world news you hear of an Islamic suicide bomber blowing himself/herself up and trying to take as many with him/her as possible - inbreed extreme lust for violence. In fact, one well known Sheik, [in Islam, a. A religious official. b. A leader of an Arab family or village. c. Used as a form of address for such an official or leader. Per The American Heritage(r) Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition.] said on a video tape played on Al Jazzera TV station that there was no greater honor for Islam than for one to commit suicide and take as many infidels with him/her as possible [Sheik Usama bin Ladin]. This clearly shows the hate, greed, and a lust for violence that many religious leaders are inbreeding in their members and the world news daily confirms this - many however deny reality.
SELF-SACRIFICING LOVE PLEASES ALMIGHTY GOD (YHWH):
Self-sacrificing love pleases Almighty God (YHWH) as shown at 2 Corinthians 12:15, "And I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved the less?" (ASV). In fact unselfish efforts will also be appreciated by like faithful followers of Jesus (Yeshua) Christ as shown by Philippians 2:29, "Receive him therefore in the Lord with all joy; and hold such in honor:" (ASV); and Hebrews 6:10, "for God is not unrighteous to forget your work and the love which ye showed toward his name, in that ye ministered unto the saints, and still do minister." (ASV).
Jesus (Yeshua) proved himself a fine shepherd of his followers as shown at John 10:11-15, "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep. 12 He that is a hireling, and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, beholdeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth, and the wolf snatcheth them, and scattereth them: 13 he fleeth because he is a hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
14 I am the good shepherd; and I know mine own, and mine own know me, 15 even as the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep." (ASV).
Your Friend in Christ Iris89