_Miracles_
Jesus is reported to have fed 5,000 people with five loaves and two fishes, and again 4,000 with seven loaves and a few small fishes. He walked on the water, calmed the seas, raised three persons from the dead and performed other miracles contrary to natural laws. These wondrous acts were depended upon by him to convince the people that he was the expected Messiah: "Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them."[10]
Jesus a.s.sured his disciples that they too would be able to perform miracles: "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover."[11]
"He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do."[12]
Jesus set great store by these marvels that only magicians attempt nowadays. Ministers of the apostolic succession cannot cast out devils or take up serpents, and they are affected by deadly drinks the same as others. Jesus had a primitive idea of the value of such magic. Either he sought to deceive the gullible, or, as is more likely, was himself overcredulous. It is important to remember that Jesus stressed the value of enchantment and advised his successors to conjure in his name.
If the miraculous had not been connected with the name of Jesus, it is probable that he never would have been heard of. His ethical teachings alone would not have won for him the exalted position that has come from the stories of his miraculous birth, life and ascension. In other words, his fame rests upon the supernatural side of his life that is now discredited by many of his followers.
_Eternal Life_
The remarks of Jesus on the subject of death were not accurate. "If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death."[13] "Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die."[14]
Apparently Jesus referred to natural death, in which case he was utterly mistaken; but if he meant that believers in him should live forever in heaven, even so he gave a false impression; for there is no evidence that life after death is a.s.sured to Christians more than to others. Unbelievers were also to have eternal life, though in torment.
_Raising Lazarus_
Jesus took advantage of opportunities, even of death, to create dramatic effects. The eleventh chapter of John shows that when Lazarus was reported ill, Jesus said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of G.o.d, that the Son of G.o.d might be glorified thereby." So Jesus let Lazarus, one of the believers whom he loved, die[15] in order that he might have the triumph of raising him from the dead. "Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe."
The confusion between earthly death and loss of eternal life was shown in the remark of Jesus to Martha: "I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." This might be construed to mean that believers should have eternal life hereafter, but Jesus evidently had reference to life on earth for he proceeded to raise Lazarus from the dead and cause him to live again on earth with his sisters.
When Martha reminded Jesus that Lazarus had been dead four days, Jesus replied, "Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of G.o.d?" But Jesus himself had doubts of his ability to bring back Lazarus to life, as shown by his spontaneous prayer of thanks: "Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me." Then he revealed again his desire to dramatize the occasion, saying, "And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me."
"Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him." Do the followers of Jesus, who claim that he made no mistakes, believe on him? If so, they must believe that he raised Lazarus from the dead as he claimed to have done. Do they believe that they can also raise people from the dead? Jesus so a.s.sured them when he promised that believers could do greater works than he performed. No, Jesus gave a false impression of his power.
_G.o.d"s Protection_
Jesus continued his deception of the world by promising protection that has never been accorded. "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows."[16]
These sayings may properly be taken as symbolical or allegorical; but the evident intention was to a.s.sure his followers that G.o.d would protect them in their daily life. Safety was promised for believers, a safety that has been lacking for everyone. There is no evidence that G.o.d does protect believers any more than unbelievers. When the t.i.tanic went down, those who perished were not solely the wicked persons; there was no distinction in the terrible disaster between believers and unbelievers.
Jesus created in the minds of his hearers and his followers the idea that G.o.d was watching each individual to save him from danger, but this, unfortunately, is not a fact. It sounds comforting; it makes people feel nearer to G.o.d; but experience proves that no such close relationship exists. Jesus gave a false impression of G.o.d"s loving care for men.
_Belief in Prayer_
Modern religious people may still consistently believe in prayer as a form of inward aspiration, but it is difficult to take literally the a.s.surance given by Jesus of practical accomplishments by means of prayer in his name.
Jesus did not confine himself to promising spiritual results from prayer, but distinctly gave it to be understood that the physical world would respond to pet.i.tions to Jehovah. "Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven."[17] "If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."[18]
"What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."[19] "If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove: and nothing shall be impossible unto you."[20]
These promises have not been fulfilled. Bishops, priests and deacons with strong faith have been unable to obtain, by means of the most sincere prayer, results similar to those indicated. They have followed Jesus in vain. No man living dare put his faith to the test by a public demonstration of prayer for physical changes. Christian prayers for rain are conventional, not being offered with confidence that rain will follow.
Jesus has misled us.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Matt. xii, 40.
[2] Luke xvii, 27; Matt. xxv, 38.
[3] Matt. iv, 17.
[4] Matt. x, 23.
[5] Matt. xvi, 28; Mark ix, 1.
[6] Matt. xxiv, 14-34; Luke xxi, 32.
[7] Mark i, 15.
[8] Mark xiii, 29-30.
[9] John v, 28-29.
[10] Matt. xi, 4-5.
[11] Mark xvi, 17-18.
[12] John xiv, 12.
[13] John viii, 51.
[14] John xi, 26.
[15] John xi, 6.
[16] Matt. x, 29-31.
[17] Matt. xviii, 19.
[18] Matt. xxi, 21-22.
[19] Mark xi, 24.
[20] Matt. xvii, 20.
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