Billy Graham: King Jesus

Q: Why didn't Jesus flee once He knew His enemies were out to get Him, instead of openly appearing in public and almost daring them to arrest Him? This has always puzzled me. — S.B.

Perhaps Jesus appeared in public if you are relying on the Bible as your guide. But if we look at history, there's no proof that Jesus actually existed, so perhaps its a moot question. Why does the story go the way it does though? Most likely to fit the narrative the authors wanted to create.

A: Almost from the beginning of His public ministry Jesus encountered opposition, and eventually it led to His death.

Citation needed.

However, during those years He did evade His enemies, because He knew it wasn't God's time for Him to die. On one occasion, He told His disciples, "My time has not yet fully come" (John 7:8).

But only according to an old and terribly inaccurate book...  What could be more reliable than that?!

Why, then, didn't He flee during those final days? The reason is simple: He knew the time had come for Him to die.

Um... But if we go by the Bible as Billy wishes, the story doesn't go as he's suggesting. Mr Graham makes it sound like Jesus knew his time had come and faced it head on without apprehension. but just take a look at Mark 14:32-42...

And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.” And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they did not know what to answer him. And he came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

Here we have a Jesus that is 'deathly sorrowful' and begs God three times that the responsibility of being a sacrifice be removed from him. He may not have run, but he still asked if he could bail on the plan.

You see, only one thing separates us from God, and that is our sin. Our greatest need, therefore, is to have our sins forgiven and cleansed, but how is this possible?

Easy. He could just, I don't know... Forgive.

The only way is for God to do it, and He made this possible by sending His Son into the world to die for us.

1) If God is omnipotent, there is no 'only way'.
2) A human sacrifice is arbitrary and unnecessary for forgiveness, or the honoring of any contract.
3) Ritual human sacrifice is barbaric, and requiring people to accept one as a gift is immoral.
4) Requiring something for forgiveness doesn't make it true forgiveness. That's more like blackmail.

-Brain Hulk

Please share, subscribe, comment and follow us on your favorite social networking sites!
facebook | google+ | twitter