The Different Phrase

Once again I am left off to finish the end of Jesus' story. The parts where he is punished on the cross for only preaching to the people his beliefs and what was right. The end was the same as Matthew, only the resurrection in Luke was a whole lot smaller than the explaining of it in the other Gospel I read.

What is different are Jesus' last words. In Matthew, Jesus' last words were asking why God was making Jesus suffer. In Luke, the last words of Christ were: "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit". Instead of begging for mercy, Jesus said the complete opposite! He told God that he was willing to give himself up for sacrifice! Just how could two men get Jesus' last words completely different? Perhaps they were there at the cross at different times, therefore explaining the differ between the last words they caught at the end.

Then it goes to the resurrection of Christ. It says: "Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have." (Luke 24:39)

What had happened was Jesus had asked his Father, the Lord, to keep the holes in his hands and his feet to prove to the people that he was indeed God's son and was in fact Jesus. He proved to them that he was not a ghost.

Actually thinking about it, that's rather interesting. I never realized it before.

Lost Sheep

And so the story continues with more of the miracles Christ performs.

What I found interesting is that Luke does not mention Jesus walking on water. In Mark 6:45-56, John 6:15-24, and Matthew 14:22-36 it does. Luke is the only one missing the information of it happening. Does this mean the other Gospels have more truth or does this mean that Luke just forgot to mention the happening?

Luke also had many strange stories. Some of them were about people asking Jesus all these questions that sometimes couldn't be answered. One part of the Gospel tells about Jesus talking about a metaphor about lost sheep: "What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing...I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentence." (Luke 15:4-7)

Christ is comparing lost sheep and the happiness of finding the lost sheep to that of heaven. Thinking about it I could never imagine Jesus or some other god-like-being sporting a metaphor comparing lost sheep to heaven. I'm sure you understand. It seems almost unruly of him to do so but yet him saying it made the comparison make sense. The quote says to us that the type of joy you get from finding your lost sheep is felt in heaven if you repent and do not sin. It says that more then ninety-nine people can repent and make it to paradise.

Starting Luke

We have to read another Gospel this week and I chose Luke.

I was shocked because I was thinking that all the Gospels were about different things. I didn't know that all four (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) were all about Christ. So starting to read Luke then finding out that it too was about Jesus, I was a bit surprised. I was wondering why my teacher would have my classmates and myself reading more than one Gospel. Then I found out why.

Even though all four are about the same thing, they are still all different. Different as in different phrases and wordings and even events.

Instead of Luke starting off from the very beginning of Jesus' life, in other words when Jesus was born, Luke starts from the time when John the-not-yet-but-soon-to-be-baptist was born. Luke then started going on about the how Mary and Joseph got together and how Jesus was born just like in Matthew. Later it goes on to talk about how John the Baptist baptizes Jesus in the River.

As I read on I realize that John may not actually not know who Jesus is. I am a little bit confused though because the text is making it sound like he did but he didn't know who Jesus is. What? It says: "And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were Christ, or not; John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the holy ghost and with fire." (Luke 3:15-16) So, I don't get it.

The Gospel of Luke tells of Jesus collecting his desciples and performing many more miracles just like in Matthew. It explains one of his miracles done: "...he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight" (Luke 7:21)

Even though there was proof of Jesus' miracles many others still doubted him which I found hard to believe. People can be so ignorant of things. It's either that or they're just ignoring what they don't want to see. But people still didn't want to have faith in him no matter what they saw with their own eyes.

A Sad Then Happy Ending

I feel sorry for Jesus. Actually, more than just sorry.

You see, I got my wisdom teeth out two weeks ago and eventually the swelling had went down and I could start eating normal. Just yesterday, I had woken up with chipmunk cheeks and my mouth in pain. I went to the dentist to see what was wrong only to get a deep cleansing. I was and still am in terrible pain. I kept thinking how I would do anything to stop the pain. Last night I was thinking I'd rather die and was wondering why I'm being put through that sort of pain.

What is my point exactly?

If I was in enough pain to want to put an end to it all from something as small as that, then I can't even imagine what it was like for Jesus on that crucifix. He was on there longer than two days and left slowly to die with nails driven through his feet and hands. I can't even bear to imagine the sort of pain.

People even mocked Jesus: "And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS" (Matthew 27:37). They wrote this on his crucifix and were making fun of him for thinking he was God's son. They also made him wear a crown of thorns as irony.

People were cruel.

Before Jesus died his last words were: "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46). He was asking God why he should be put through such pain. Everyone waited to see if Elias would save him and started wondering if this was truly God's son.

People waited and soon an earthquake happened and the graves were opened. Jesus had been resurected and then gone into the city to show himself to the people. People were fearful and realized that Jesus was truly God's son.

A Miracle of All Miracles

I am overly depressed today. Apparently we're going to be doing more Bible reading. I almost screamed for mercy when I heard the news. So now I'm taking down the Gospel the night before its do because I was too lazy to do my assignments throughout last week.

Yippee.

Please just ignore my whining.

Matthew goes back into the past and writes about believe it or not, Jesus. He goes clear back to the city of Bethlehem where Jesus himself was born in the little manger. He then continues telling how the three wise men followed the North Star and gave gifts to the newborn child.

King Herold (aka Herold the Great) soon hears about the baby Jesus and hears that Jesus is to be King of the Jews. Mr. Herold gets dearly upset with the threat and jealousy gains him over. Therefore, he sent orders to have all sons in the forms of babies killed. Knowing this, Jesus and his loving parents escape to Egypt for their son's safety.

After the insane King finally died, Joseph moved his family back to Israel and then to Nazareth where Jesus grows up.

Soon, John the Baptist came along. I'm sure you've all heard of him as he's very popular. He was in fact the very one who baptized Jesus in the Jordan River. Because of the opportunity to be baptised, Jesus recieved the blessing of the Lord.

Later, Voldisatan comes into the story. The one-who-must-not-be-named. Voldisatan decides to test Jesus leads him into the wilderness for forty days with no food nor water.

Guess what?

God's son makes it!

Well, of course he does.


Satan then tempts to drag Jesus down with him, tempting him that all the world could be his. In other words, Satan says, "Come to dark side, I have cookies." Really.

Jesus doesn't fall for it and goes back to telling the people to repent: "Repent! For the kingdom of heaven has come near." (Matthew 4:17)

God's son basically becomes a preacher and one everyone could look up to. He taught the Gospel, healed the sick, raised the dead, and preformed many miracles.
What some people in the olden times didn't realize was that Jesus was himself a miracle.

Less and Less

It's the end of the Tao Te Ching and I must say, not that bad of a book. It had more than enough interesting things in it that taught me a lot. Or not really, but whatever.

But I did very much like this book and I could understand much better than the bible and what Confucius wrote. I realized the Tao had a lot to do with balance and I liked that. I agree that the world is a big mess of balance if you know what I mean. I mean, the Tao certainly kept me reading.

One that I found very interesting has to do with action: "Less and less is done, until non-action is achieved. When nothing is done, nothing is left undone." (Tao Te Ching ll 48) At least this part has to do with action.

Some of you may be thinking it means being lazy and don't do anything. Just sit in front of your family TV and eat a whole bunch of potato chips and life will be good.

No.

Instead it is a way or idea of action without action. It is saying live life the best you can and the way you want to. Don't waste time. Spend your time with people and doing things who or that are worth it. Lose yourself in life.

Simple, eh?

In the same chapter 48, it always explains, "In the pursuit of learning, every day something is acquired. In the pursuit of Tao, every day something is dropped." This too is simply saying that when you're on a hunt for knowledge you learn something new every day. When you live the way of the Tao, you do less and less. You become more relaxed in a sense and just follow the way of life. Tao is a new experience I suppose and does good.

Living with the Tao ways I don't think life would be too bad. Maybe even better.

Balance

So here we go again.

I don't know if it's just me but I am finding that everything seems to get more interesting as I read on. The meanings are deep and in more ways true than we may think. To me, each little section refers to humanity and real life.

For example:
"That which shrinks
Must first expand.
That which fails
Must first be strong.
That which is cast down
Must first be raised.
Before receiving
There must be giving" (Tao Te Ching ll 36)

This is similar to the saying that somewhat goes "You cannot have good without evil" or "There is no such thing as evil if there is no good" or however the saying goes. All I know is that it's true. Without good, evil doesn't exist.

Now apply it to the above text from chapter 36. You can't shrink if you didn't first expand, you can't fail without first being strong, you can't be a loser if you weren't at first popular, and you can't receive if you never gave.

Make sense?

I agree with this saying. It's almost like you can't have something without its opposite. You need a balance with everything in life. You can't have one without the other.