In
the little town of Bethlehem in Palestine, 2,000 years ago, there was born in a
lowly manger, a male child, son to the carpenter Joseph and his wife, Mary, who
belonged to a subject people, the Jews, under the rule of the Roman conquerors.
This child was later to be called the Son of God, the King of kings. Coming
into the world at a time when the world had turned itself away from God,
through him, God gave to the world His love, His truth and His light.
The people had departed from the teachings of the old prophets. Driven by their
lusts for the things of the flesh, they had forgotten God and thought only of
their own selfish interests. The principles and teachings of Judaism were
cancelled out by the corruptness of its high priests and the deafness of its
followers. The need for God’s guidance was great. And God sent Jesus.
While Jesus is the Master of the World, he, like Gautama, the Buddha, before
him, went into actual preparation for the first 30 years of his life, learning
from others, and remembering what others did not know. For he comes from above.
He is not of this world. He comes from Heaven.
When it was time for him to do his Father’s work, he taught and preached with
great authority surpassing that of all his elders and even the prophets before
him. His life and teachings are embodied in the New Testament. And all that he
taught can be summarized into two great commandments — “Love God and love your
neighbor as yourself.” By his works, the world knows him. And all who are of
the Truth listen to him.
The followers of the teachings of Jesus, the Christ, were later on called
Christians. And, subsequently, the Christian Church was organized under the
leadership of Peter and Paul and spread all over the world.
Jesus upgrades the Old
Testament teachings
In most all cases when asked as to their specific objections to religion,
critics and non-believers cite false, obsolete and superseded teachings found
in the Holy Scriptures of all the religions. They fail to realize that all
instruction, especially divine instruction, is progressive – beginning
from the simple basic and graduating to the more complex and advanced.
So did Jesus refute most all of the objectionable Old Testament teachings. Just
to mention a few to give everyone a clearer idea, but there are many:
1. In place of the tribal god Jehovah, the angry and jealous god of the
Hebrews, Jesus revealed the One God of love, justice and mercy Who loves all
His children, assuring us that there is a valid spiritual reason for everything
that happens to everyone.
2. Instead of separation, isolation and the elimination of all enemies,
inferior races and rival tribes, he taught that all men are brothers. We should
all learn to love one another and live in harmony.
3. An eye for an eye was replaced by Forgive, Turn your other cheek and Love
your enemies. This while assuring everyone that God's exacting divine justice
will be meted out to everyone.
4. Animal and human sacrifices are discouraged in favor of the living practice
of love, mercy, kindness and service to our fellowmen. Even though this is
still widely believed and taught by his misguided followers, Jesus should not
be regarded as a human sacrifice who died as a ransom for our sins. Instead,
all of us will have to live as he lived, following his example as best we can.
5. He simplified the 10 Commandments and summed them up into just 2 – Love God
and love your neighbor as yourself, affording us more leeway in recognition of
our higher stage of development from that of the ancient Hebrews.
6. Many of the over 600 Mosaic Laws were revealed as worthless and useless
traditions that even ran contrary to the true laws of God. The prohibitions
against eating non-kosher foods and the detailed procedures for washing pots,
pans, and other worldly rules and practices, etc. – all man-made laws. God's
laws relate to Spirit and are not so much concerned with material and physical
considerations.
7. He clarified the many integral parts of love. Do not judge or criticize.
Forgive. We should mind our own business – the board in our own eye – and not
interfere with someone else's. Practice tolerance and non-violence. Serve
rather than seek to be served – the greatest of all is the servant of all. Do
unto others as you would want others to do unto you.
8. He also provided us with clearer insights regarding the things of heaven and
the goings on there. He enjoins us to study and prepare for the True Life that
comes after Earth life. Our fate depends on us, entirely – what we think and
do. And our enjoyment of everything in life is based on merit.
9. Before he left us, he told us that God would send the Holy Spirits in his
name to guide us to “all truth.” He promised that he will return, reincarnate,
to teach us more, those that he wasn't able to tell us before, even the
mysteries kept hidden since the foundation of the world. He will speak no
longer in parables, but he will teach us plainly. And to those who have kept
faith with him, his promises are being fulfilled even now.
No comments:
Post a Comment