BIBLE OVERVIEW
(This is one of two documents: this first is a brief
orientation and the second attempts a brief look at
the essential meaning of the Bible - these files are
only a single persons opinion based on personal reflection
and other sources)
[last updated 9/11/2001 - under construction]
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This is as we find the Bible today - there are differences in the
order and inclusion of books in the original old Hebrew Bible
and the later Greek translation of the Old Testament used as
a basis for earlier English Translations.
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B A S I C O V E R V I E W:
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The "Bible" is a collection of many books "bible"=biblos="books"
(greek)
so it isn't "monolithic" but has many types and styles and qualities
of writings.
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It's MOST GENERAL DIVISION is into
OLD TESTAMENT & = Hebrew Bible written in Hebrew
NEW TESTAMENT = Christian Bible written in Greek
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The NEXT DIVISIONS are within these two LARGE collections of books
[ but: it must first be noted that even here Catholics and
Protestants include different books in Old Testament ]
each feels some books are or are not "cannonical" =
accepted by the orthodox of their faith because they
contain "revelation" from God.
[ In this overview I include ALL; Catholic and Protestant ]
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OLD TESTAMENT DIVISIONS: (Testament = Covenant = cooperative relation
between God/man; man/God. Covenant also
has a close relationship to Law [as in 10
"commandments"])
FOUR kinds of books in the "Old" Testament
1) Pentateuch = "5 books" = "Torah" (First 5 books)
2) Historical Books
3) Wisdom Books
4) Prophetic Books.
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I PENTATEUCH = TORAH = First 5 books used today in the
Jewish Temple as the MAIN word of God
(This is kept in the "ark of the
covenant" doors behind the Rabbi in
a scroll)
These Books are:
GENESIS = "beginnings" Creation and beginning of Jewish
people.
EXODUS = slavery and exodus of Jews from Egypt:
the beginning of the long Desert Wanderings;
the Sinai mountain where Moses gave the 10 commandments
LEVITICUS = Levites = Priests; setting up of the ethical
and legal codes for Jewish Life while in Desert travels
NUMBERS = Counting and trials of the "community" of Jews
from the Desert to the "promised Land" = Cannaan
DEUTRONOMY = "deutro" = second; "nomy" = "law" : = "second
Book of the Law" (this book later discovered by ancient
Hebrews) and recounts much of Exodus + greatly expanded
meaning of the Law and the Covenant as the basis of
the Holy Life of the Jews ( and later Christians) +
includes the Death of Moses. Leaves Jews on the
border of the Promised Land = Canaan.
(This book responsible for reforms in Judaeism by
Josiah.)
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II HISTORICAL BOOKS:
(These books trace the entry of the Jews into the
land of Canaan and the conquest and establishment of the
first rulers [Judges] then the Kings, and finally the
division of the Jews into two geographical and political
groups - Northern Judah and Southern Israel.) The great
kings like David and Solomon and the Building of the Great
Jerusalem Temples are here also.)
(They also trace the slow reparture of the Jews
from their ideals as seen in the Torah, and the breakdown
of ethics along with the influences of other gods and
nations leading to disaster)
There are 13 historical books: usually groups in these
divisions:
1) Joshua 2) Judges 3) Ruth 4) Samuel 5) Kings
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
6) Chronicles 7) Ezra 8) Nehemiah
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
9) Tobit 10) Judith 11) Esther
(Catholic Book)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
12) First Maccabees 13) Second Maccabees
(These two not in Protestant Bible)
[Jewish festival of Chanuka from these books]
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III THE WISDOM BOOKS
Wisdom = Sophia = Female emination from God
(Greek) [ from Hellenistic Jedaism]
"Sophia" has a close tie to the Greek "Logos"[note 1]
in the New Testament which is the "Word of Christ" which
existed before the world and was the function through
which all was created. Can also = vibration = sound
and by extension the organization of sound in scales
and speech. [ = Gurdjieff law of 7 ]
(Here we must consider the role of "organized vibration"
and the spectrum of known and unknown frequencies in all
phenomina. Periodic wave-forms and the arising of any
recognizable "world" is the only possibility of communication,
which is a function of the "word". MUSIC in particular
"remembers" a root knowledge reflected in Holy sounds in many
traditions of ancient music where the holy and healing are yet
unseperated. Remnants of this remain in Holy Chant {Gregorian
and othres} and ancient music of middle and far east and
Pythagorian theory)["music of the spheres"]
[Note 1] Historical Note on LOGOS:
"The greek word LOGOS is usually translated as 'word'
in English Bibles, which is one of its meanings (speech,
discourse, proclamation, rational principle), but it
also means 'reason.' LOGOS was known both in pagan and
Jewish antiquity, having been defined by Heraclitus (c.
500 B. C.) in a pantheistic way as the universal reason
governing and permeating the world, which the Stoics
adopted and popularized as a concept. In Hellenistic
JUDAISM the Logos as an independent hypostasis was
further developed, and came to be associated with WISDOM
(SOPHIA) [Wis. of Sol, 9:1,2, 18:15]. Philo of
Alexandria combined Greek terms of philosophy and
biblical concepts saying that the Logos is the divine
pattern from which the material world is copied, the
divine power in the cosmos, the divine purpose or agent
in creation and an intermediary between God and Man.
Saint John, having a knowledge of the ideas of the
ancient world, identified the LOGOS with the MESSIAH in
an entirely new way. It is not possible with any
accuracy to learn to what extent his use of Logos was an
inheritance from Hebrew Scripture or a derivation from
Hellenic philosophy."
[ The (Greek) Orthodox New Testament. Endnotes
to the Gospel of John, p 469 ]
These books are characterized by didacticism = i.e.,
to teach; to build the human from the divine; to
shape the soul from the truth.
There are 7 Wisdom Books:
1) Job (May be the most ancient story in the Bible)
2) Psalms
[This book has come to stand on its own in both
Jewish and Christian Tradition; Psalm = song
(Hebrew)
and is a collection of books of 150 songs to God
(Most of them by King David). Much "liturgy" =
worship form, uses Psalms - seperate book is
called "The Psalter"] { The first American Music
ever written is the setting to music of
the Puritan Psalter and others}
< Musical settings of the Psalms are particularly
important in the Lutheran Church and in
Eastern Orthodox Monastic Traditions >
(Composers throughout history have also set
seperate or groups of Psalms to Music)
3) Proverbs (Collection of Wisdom Sayings)
4) Ecclesiastes (Very Oriental Book)
5) Song of Songs (Or "Song of Solomon")(Allegorical Love
Song)
6) Book of Wisdom (Catholic Bible Only)
7) Ecclesiasticus (Catholic Bible Only)
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IV PROPHETIC BOOKS
(These books are called the "Prophets". They
record the men who became the "conscience" of
the Jews during the Historical Periods in the
Historical Books and beyond that period
into Disaster.)
(They interpret current events [injustice &
idolatry] and forcast {prophesy} the
consequences [conquest and exile] & distruction
of the Temple in Jerusalem)
(Some prophets during the period of exile forcast
repentance and return to the land and the
rebuilding of the Temple. Others go FURTHER
and fortell ULTIMATE JUSTICE O N L Y at the
END OF THE WORLD)[or an aeon] This last type is call
"apocalyptic" and "eschatological"
[Greek = end-age-loss] [Greek = end-timeness]
There are 18 Prophetic Books. Usually they are catagorized
as "major" and "minor" prophets, but this is not
very helpful or realistic.
They are:
1) Isaiah [major] Much of Christ's character forcast
2) Jeremiah [major] great ethical statements
{Bernstein set parts of this to a Symphony}
3) Lamentations 4) Baruch 5) Ezekiel (visionary symbolism)
6) Daniel (highly symbolic) 7) Hosea (symbol of Israel as
"whore") 8) Joel 9) Amos 10) Obediah 11) Jonah
12) Micah 13) Naham 14) Habakkuk 15) Zephaniah
16) Haggai 17) Zechariah 18) Malachi
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_________________________END OF OLD TESTAMENT__________________________
N E W T E S T A M E N T
=========================
The New Testament (or New Covemant) is Divided into
GOSPELS (Greek="good news") & EPISTLES (Greek=letters)
the book of ACTS (Acts of the Apostles)
& REVELATION (the last book which is like the
apocalyptic and eschatological
prophets)
The GOSPELS are records of the Life and Teaching of JESUS CHRIST
There are 4 Gospels
The Book of ACTS tells of the work of the Disciples of Jesus
after his Death and Resurrection.
(Acts was written by the writer of the Gospel of Luke)
The EPISTLES are letter of Paul to existing early churches
and by early Christians for each other or gentiles
There are 14 letters of Paul
& 7 General Letters
REVELATION of highly symbolic and tells of the end-times of
life for an era or epoch or a world.
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The GOSPELS and ACTS
There are 4 Gospels - 3 are called "synoptic" = [syn = same or
parallel (Greek)
optic = view
(Greek)
these have a parallel view and tell
in general outline of the same flow of events of the
life the Teaching of Jesus Christ and His Disciples.
The "synoptic" Gospels are:
MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE.
The last GOSPEL is JOHN. It differs from the synoptics.
(It is more "gnostic" and has a more
emotinal tone)
ACTS was written by the same person who wrote LUKE. It was
written together as LUKE/ACTS - but is printed
in the Bible with LUKE among the GODPELS and ACTS
rights after the last GOSPEL, John.
MARK was written first, but printed in Bibles after Matthew.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
THE FOUR GOSPELS
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MATTHEW: This is the most Jewish Gospel and contains more
of the parables than any other, It is the most
"esoteric" = hidden Gospel in that the meaning are
deep and ask much of the initiate. (Gurdjieff says
this has the "secrets" of Christianity)
Here Jesus shows his continuity with the Old Testament
and his transformation of it.
MARK: This was the earliest Gospel and has eye-witness
accounts.
LUKE: Was written for a Greek and tried to be historically
accurate. It emphasizes the female aspects of God
in the role of the Virgin Mary and also the presence
of the Holy Spirit in the life of Christ. This
record continues in the book of ACTS.
JOHN: This Gospel does not attempt history, but shows
the inner life of Christ and the emotional power
of his relationship with God and his projection
of Love into the lives of the Disciples as his
"new commandment". It has great depth of meaning.
ACTS: Continues where LUKE leaves off, and shows the
power of the Holy Spirit to enable the Disciples
to continue the Message and Healing of Jesus in and
beyond Isreal into other regions.
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The EPISTLE = letters
There are 14 letters attributed to Paul who was a Jewish
intellectual originally named Saul. He was a persecutor of
the early Christians until the Spirit of Christ literally
knocked him off his horse and blinded him. After this
inner experience he became a Missionary for Christianity
all over the middle eastern world. These are letters to
the churches he visited and some are from when he was in
prison for his efforts. (These letters are difficult reading,
yet with many powerful teachings and beautiful passages,
but also show the trouble Paul had integrating this radical
experience into his life)
There are other general letters which can be thought of as
addressed to all Christians.
The Epistles of Paul are:
1) Romans 2) 1st Corinthians 3) 2nd Corinthians 4) Galations
5) Ephesians 6) Phillipians 7) Colossians 8) 1st Thessalonians
9) 2nd Thessalonians 10) 1st Timothy 11) 2nd Timothy
12) Titus 13) Philemon 14) Hebrews.
[ 1st and 2nd Corinthians are of powerful inspiration
and have famous teachings on Love ]
[ HEBREWS may NOT be by Paul - It is also considered
by some to be an "esoteric" book on the
order of the Gospel Matthew ]
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General Christian Epistles:
There are 7 general Christian Letters: They are:
1) James (This is a very interesting letter which reflects
an early Christian Community which could
have grown up through the teaching of
Jesus' Brother and which has a healthy "way"
balancing both faith and good works)
2) 1st peter 3) 2nd Peter 4) 1st John 4) 2nd John
6) 3rd John 7) Jude (may have also been written by a brother of
Jesus)
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REVELATION: The last book in the New Testament.
Revelation was written by a person named "John" on the Greek
Island of Patmos under the powerful influence of a visionary
experience through the Holy Spirit. It is heavy and profound
symbolism thick with metaphor and visionary material. There
have been very many attempts at interpretation all of which
have their merits. The book is "eschatological" and
"apocalyptic"; dealing with the end of an era, an epoch, a
world. It shows the power of both good and evil and the
seperation of the acts flowing from these forces. It reveals
the inner world of the spirit and the higher realities which
are at work at all times just out of the reach of our
awareness.
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Making some Sense of the Bible:
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"THE DOORS TO THE INVISIBLE MUST BE VISIBLE"
Rene Daumal Mount Analogue
Helping the Bible to come to
L I F E.
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An OUTLINE of the Bible is a good place to start - it is orientation.
But what is all of this saying?
The Bible (as you saw) has MANY books and in these books are also MANY
STYLES of writing - depicting different ways of KNOWING Truth.
The Bible is the Western Sacred Text - holding Truth in many forms. It
should be viewed as a Whole Book - this means seeing how ALL fits
together.
This means first that the "Old" and "New" Testaments have a
connection. This means that the Diverse Books in Each Testament are
speaking the "word" of truth in different languages.
What are the Languages? What is the Truth?
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THE HISTORICAL BOOKS
Even though we begin with Genesis which is usually a part of the
collection called the Historical Books and known in the Jewish Tradition
as the Torah, Genesis to a large extent and all the othres to a some
extent contain material that is not limited to a historical
interpretation. Here is a quote from Maurice Nocoll expressing another
diimension found in these books:
"Everything said in the first five books of the Old Testament,
called the Pentateuch or Torah,, has an external, literal
meaning and an internal, esoteric, or psychological meaning.
These books were written not as literal histories but to convey
another meaning, just as in the case of the Parables.
Historical incidents were used and adapted in such a way that
esoteric or inner meaning could be conveyed by what apparently
happened in an historical sense."
In Genesis; the beginning part of the book speaks the language of Myth
and "esoteric" psychology. Each "story" may be taken not
only on levels we might assume from the language, but also
on a personal level - this is the challenge and the power
of Genesis.
It allows it to have a multilevel meaning where we are
listening to Cosmology, Biology, Psychology and Religion,
"esoteric schools" of truth and human origins.
The Garden of Eden, The story of Cain and Abel, the
story of Noah and the Ark, the story of the Tower
of Babel have immense depth and powerful meanings.
They are not only "old stories" but speak to
each person about the human condition we
find ourselves in and the life we see
surrounding us.
Their character of language allows them to be BOTH
about schools of ancient humanity AND each of us
at the same time. They are not in the realm of time,
but of the "archtypal" - eternally true and endlessly
rich to teach and reveal.
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Later in Genesis we move to another Language; History. This begins with
the Story of ABRAHAM, the Father of the Jewish People. But IMMEDIATELY
we see that this is NOT JUST HISTORY. This "mythological" ancestor of
the Jewish People is an historical figure who enters the Bible ONLY
BECAUSE he has been CALLED by GOD. From this point on we find the
beginning of a SPECIAL KIND OF HISTORY, where what appear to be records
of historical events in the lives of individuals and groups are tracing
patterns in time (history) of events taking place on a level between God
and people. This is refered to by a German word: "Heilsgeschichte" =
Sacred Hstory. History that is also Mystery. (Not only the obvious
history that appears, but interpretation of that History.)
This language asks us to see patterns in events that reveal human
behavior that is responsible to truth - not random events or accidents
of history, but history that defines dynamics of life applicable to
everyone as individuals and groups and nations. It calls behavior into
relationsip to responsibility to justice and righteousness. It also
shows in dynamic events the results of the successes and the failures to
act consciously or to act unconsciously - awake or asleep - aware or
conditioned.
This begins with Abraham and continues through not only
the liberation from Egypt and the coming to God on St. Sinai,
but into the establishment of nationhood and leadership and
politics.
In this language is important truth. Examples are God's
giving his Name as "I am Who I am". There are the
10 commandments which release persons from the slavery
of conditioned behavior hidding Conscience. The desert
wandering from Egypt to Caanan testing the ability to
trust guidance from a confortable known life toward a
promised unknown life.... to allow oneself to be lead
from the comforts of slavery to the familiar into the
freedom of the undefined. The gift of "landedness" and
it's responsibilities - failures to love the gift and
carelessnes resulting in loss.
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* C O V E N A N T * CENTRAL THEME
The word "covenant" means a mutual agreement between the authority and the serv-ant or vassel. It is this special agreement that God uses to engage the
Hebrew People as his special agent in History.
The VERY FIRST Covenant which BEGINS this process and is at ROOT of all
the Historical Books and plays an important part in the Prophetic Books
is the Covenant with ABRAHAM as the "father" of the Jewish People.
Abraham is called from his unknown faith and his country
to follow a far future promise with the assurance of a
promised land and a people from him which will number as great
as the stars of the heavens.
So begins the journey of Abraham which becomes the journey of the
Hebrew Nation. This COVENANT is "cut" with Abraham and reflects
all covenants to come.
[ It is very interesting to read in PSALM 105 a concise review
of this history beginning with Abraham from a positive view, and then
read of the same history in PSALM 106 from the view of the Hebrew's
failure to live up the covenants ]
(Especially good is the account and commentaries is the rare
set of books by Charles H. Spurgeon: "The Treasury of David",
Vol. V, published in America in 1881 - previously published
in England, where Spurgeon treats all the Psalms line by
line with his own and others commentary.) [This is a 7 vol. set])
Begining with EXODUS through DEUTEONOMY we see the lessons of Egyptian
Slavery - the Passover - Moses and Aaron and the liberation from Egypt,
the Crossing of the Desert, the approach to the "promised land".
This section shows the BEGINNING OF A PEOPLE who have a SPECIAL CALLING;
this is a TEST of that CALLING and lessons of
liberation-trust-leadership. The Jews are to become a "LIGHT TO THE
NATIONS".
(A nation of priests,
a chosen people)
THE CENTER is *COVENANT*
The COVENANT with ABRAHAM is the ORIGINAL Covenant,
which begins the History of the Hebrews in
GENESIS.
The LAW given at Mt. Sinai through Moses
to the people is in the FORM of a COVENANT
(This is known also as the "Ten Commandnents")
The covenant = mutual agreement between God and His People;
(Scholars see a basis for this in the Near Eastern
convenant treaties between leaders and vassels)
this MOSAIC COVENANT is * C O N D I T I O N A L *
=====================
It says: I, Your God, will protect and guide and teach you
as you agree to keep my commandments and fulfill your calling.
This is the KEY to the rest of the Historical Books - they show how the
Jewish people STRUGGLE with this covenant - how they enshrine this Law
in the "ARK OF THE COVENANT" to take with them throught their wanderings
through the desert. How is become a symbol of their identity and
meaning - how they SOMETIME SUCCEED AND SOMETIME FAIL to live the
Covenant and the LESSONS this teaches about RESPONSIBILITY to their
conditions.
When they become a Nation this translates into their VISIBILITY
= LIGHT to those nations around them. THEY demonstrate a form of
government and life that is ETHICAL, JUST, ECONOMICALLY FAIR AND a
living EXAMPLE of how people SHOULD LIVE TOGETHER in SOCIETY.
(From tribal wonderings to established nationhood, the COVENANT is
the guiding thread and the root of their being a "Light to the
Nations.")
Another lesson is FAILURE: when these conditions fail, and they
become MIXED with the non-ethics of the nations around them, then the
EVIL of social life = "structural evil" = evils interconnected and
institutionalized find CONSEQUENCES in the BREAKING OF THE COVENANT and
the consequences of EXILE = loss of identity = loss of calling = loss of
meaning = Loss of Land and Nationhood.
"How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?"
Here we see the ROLE of the PROPHETS: They are conscience and
see the evils and point to the forgotten covenent and fortell EXILE.
They warn Kings and leaders, and government - injustice, economic
imbalance, poverty, military crimes, idolatry, loss of ethics,
immorality, forgetting of meaning - all these and more - lead to
disaster.
In the Midst of this - at the high point of their National Life,
before exile, at the time of DAVID, just before SOLOMON there is
Another COVENANT:
the DAVIDIC COVENANT which is NOT CONDITIONAL!!
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it promises a lineage of the KINGSHIP of the line of DAVID
with is eternal and everlasting connecting God with His People.
Now we have TWO COVENANTS - one CONDITIONAL and one
UNCONDITIONAL!
As David's SON, SOLOMON builds the great JERUSALEM TEMPLE
(from which the MASONS take thier structure and ritual) that
will enclose the ARK OF THE COVENANT -
DAVID
forms
a NEW COVENANT - eternal KINGSHIP!! Guaranteed by GOD!
[The prophet Nathan shows David this new promise in books of
Samuel and Chronicles]
What is the ROLE of these TWO COVENANTS??
*****************************************
1) Moses - Law - 10 commandments - conditional covenant
is the basis of Jewish life and ethics and the
formation of their national meaning which lived
through all their history and comes to influence
all of civilization as the Jews become scattered
over the earth after the loss of thier home-land.
2) David - Kingship - Lineage - unconditional covenant
becomes for a Hope throughout Jewish history for
a King to establish a home-land and peace. It
is part of the basis for the continued struggle
of the Jews to maintain and protect Israel against
attack and establish soverignty once and for all.
(Prophets also take up this Covenant and see it
both within the Jewish National Life and BEYOND
toward a promise for all people)[cp: Isaiah]
& Jeremiah]
[This second covenant is espressed also in the
language of WISDOM literature - especially the
PSALMS ( in what are called "Royal Psalms"),
cp. Psalm 2 and 110.
Later we will see that:
[ In JESUS: These TWO COVENANTS come together.
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During Jesus' life many Jewish People expected JESUS to become
the KING in the line of DAVID - to achieve a POLITICAL victory
and finally establish Jewish home-land . . . this is part of the
reason the Romans were keeping such a close watch on Jesus, and
why ultimately they agreed to let the crowds crucify him.
BUT: Jesus took this expectation and TRANSFORMED it by showing
that HIS KINGDOM WAS " NOT OF THIE WORLD ". The New Testament
book of Hebrews quotes the Psalms (above) in understanding this
new "Kingdom" of Jesus.
AND: Jesus also said that the Covenant of the 10 commandments
was a way that could lead to eternal life. He did not deny any
of this covenant but said it should be fulfilled not only in
its literanl meaning but should enter the heart and be
understood in even a more "righteous" way. (This is part
of the "esoteric" teaching of Jesus).[cp: Prophet Jeremiah
on this "internal = heart Covemant] and also in the
book of Hebrews in the New Testamnet ]
Getting back to the Old Testament:
Here we have a blending of the TWO Covenants in
a new way.
The failure to
live up to the Mosaic Covenant resulted in EXILE....
as Prophets fortold.
Josiah helped reform the situation when he found in a
TEMPLE a book of the Law (which had apparently been forgotten!!) and
re-established the Mosaic Covenant. Israel was later restored to the land
again and the temple rebuilt. (This book may have been a significant
part of Deuteronomy.) With this restoration and rebuilding the hope
for the continual Kingship takes up the Davidic Covemant
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W I S D O M
In the Language of the WISDOM books - there is a living heritage of
Wisdom based on knowledge of God and his Creation. This
language speaks more to the INDIVIDUAL than to the Nation. What is the
destiny of each individual? What can we do to find our destiny and how
can we fulfill it once it is found? King SOLOMON typifies wisdom and
the most ancient sections of Proverbs is attributed to him.
Among all the wisdom books, the PSALMS are the most famous and show
the most Variety.
P S A L M S
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Psalms are Songs of the Hebrews. Some were used in workship.
They are of great variety. Some of PESONAL, some are COMMUNITY,
some are for PRIVATE meditation, some are for CORPORATE WORSHIP.
They speak about many of the languages of the Bible we know, but
are always written in a special language of Hebrew Poetry.
Hebrew Poetry doesn't rhyme words as much as it rhymes parallel
or contrasing meaning units. It is a poetry of meanings. It sometimes
reinforces same meanings - it sometimes contrasts meanings, it sometimes
encloses central ideas in beginning and ending parallels. Some even
use the Hebrew Alphabet to begin each line.
The subjects include Royal Psalms (like those about King David),
Processional Psalm (on trecks to the Temple) Celebration of Holidays,
Laments both personal and community, Praise and Thanksgiving, Wisdom,
Life and Death, Man and God.
Psalms are HONEST expressions of HUMAN EMOTIONS before GOD which
brings HEALING in their expression and in their waiting for answers.
Any PERSON can find a Psalm that can express their situation in
life and their feelings openly and honestly. They are songs of our
common humanity lifted into the Presence of God - as a burden is lifted
from the shoulders.
PSALMS are part of Eastern and Western Catholic Worship and most
Protestant Churches. They are usually sung or "intoned". There are
special "Psalm Tones" and psalms have been re-written METRICALLY for
formal singing. Metrical Psalters from many eras are great collections
to study and use.
Psalms are used in SPECIAL SEASONS of the Church Year.
"PENETENTIAL" psalms are used during Lent. Certain
Psalms are for morning or evening worship.
Here is an example of Psalm I, which sets the tone for the whole book of
Psalms. See if you can feel the reinforcing of same idea units and the
contrasting units in parallel phrases of the style of Hebrew Poetry
(Jerusalem Bible)
P S A L M I
Two Ways
Happy the man
who never follows the advice of the wicked,
or loiters on the way that sinners take,
or sits about with scoffers,
but finds his pleasure in the Law of God,
and murmers his law day and night.
He is like a tree that is planted
by water streams,
yielding its fruit in season,
its leaves never fading;
success attends all he does.
It is nothing like this with the wicked, nothing like this!
No, the wicked are like chaff
blown away by the wind,
The wicked will not stand firm when Judgement comes,
nor sinners when the virtuous assemble.
For God takes care of the way the virtuous go,
but the way of the wicked is doomed.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
* P R O P H E T S *
+++++++++++++++
Prophets are exceptional CHANNELS for God's Word. Prophets received
special psychological events that opened them and purified their spirits
so that they could "receive". For example, one prophet saw coals of
fire coming to touch his lips so that nothing put the pure truth would
be spoken.
[ In the Prophet Isaiah ]
(Jerusalem Bible)
'What a wretched state I am in! I am lost,
for I am a man of unclean lips
and live among a people of unclean lips,
and my eyes have looked at the King, Yahwey Sabaoth.'
Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding
in his hand a live coal which he had taken from the altar
with a pair of tongs. With this he touched my mouth and
said:
'See now, this has touched your lips,
your sin is taken away,
your iniquety is purged.'
[ . . . Isaiah 6: 3-7 ]
The word for Prophet is "nabi", and derives sometimes from the word "to
(Hebrew)
be beside oneself"; and it also has the meaning "to be called". Some
prophets were "ecstatic" and all were called; and they could NOT deny
the call - if it wasn't followed they could not function. They were
compelled to speak.
Prophets saw VISIONS, had DREAMS, were lifted into SPIRTITUAL
consciousness to learn the Will of God for the circumstances they were
in. They EXPOSED hypocracy, evil, spiritual blindness, injustice and
especially IDOLATRY = worshiping anything other than God = loving and
having as one's ultimate concern something less than God and one's
neighbor. (With Isreal this was especially to worship images and statues
worshiped by neighboring foreign coutries)
They taught not only through words, but also by their actions and their
lives. Some dressed in unusual ways as symbolic; for one his unhappy
marriage was a symbol; another walked naked as a sign; yet another
considered his whole life as " a sign to the House of Isread."
They used MANY FORMS of address: lyrical fragments, prose, parable, curt
oracular style, exhortation, diatribe, sermon, proverb, formal psalm,
love songs, satire, funeral lament, etc. Many used MUSIC as a catalist
to the special state of consciousness. Also sometimes their states
caused abnormal manifestations, but these are incidental to the fact
they they were not only speaking their own words,
but were SPEAKING THE WORDS OF GOD.
The Prophets not only
WARNED against events against the Meaning of the JEWS
they CORRECTED the wrongs by POINTING TO THE RIGHT WAY,
to RETURN to the truth and the mission and the calling
(A return to the COVENANT)
and they FORTOLD patterns of God's action in the future
which went even into EVENTS in the NEW TESTAMENT and
BEYOND.
When we READ THE PROPHETS
we can begin to see what is happening in the world, and why
nations and events are as difficult as they are. We can see how far
away communities are from living together like human beings. It also
becomes clear how life together erodes without the guidance of God's
patterns for justice and right. We learn about the failure of leaders
and teaches as well as those who teach falsely and train us to trust
evil. We also learn about the invisible forces that are available to
help when we are able to hear and to do.
With the two LAST PROPHETS in the Old Testament we hear words which lead
into a time RIPE for the NEW. It was a time when The Jewish Tradition
was beginning to fragmented into sects, wide divergence of beliefs,
legalization of life, passionate expectation for political revolt
or renewal, and unrest. Prophets POINTED to a NEW TIME with such words
as in ZECHARIAH, next to the last of the Prophets:
Rejoice heart and soul, daughters of Zion!
Shout with gladness, daughters of Jerusalem!
See how, your king comes to you;
he is vitorious, he is triumphant,
humble and riding on a donkey,
He will banish chariots from Ephriam
and horses from Jerusalem;
the bow of war will be banished.
He will proclaim peace for the nations.
His empire shall stretch from sea to sea,
from the River to the ends of the earth.
[ Zechariah 9: 9 - 10: Jerusalem Bible ]
and of Malachi, last of the Prophets in the Old Testament:
these are the LAST WORDS of the BOOK:
Remember the Law of my servant Moses to whom at Horeb I
prescribed laws and customs for the whole of Israel. Know that I am
going to send you Elijah the prophet before my day comes, that great and
terrable day. He shall turn the hearts of fathers toward their children
and the hearts of children towards their fathers, lest I come and strike
the land with a curse.
[ Malachi 1: 22-26 - Jerusalem Bible ]
========================++++++++++++++++++++++++++========================
"THE DOORS TO THE INVISIBLE MUST BE VISIBLE"
Rene Daumal Mount Analogue
THE N E W T E S T A M E N T
==============================
Before beginning with the "meaning" of the New Testament, one should
understand that in MALACHI (the last Old Testament Prophet as quoted
above) - he who was to come; ELIJAH, was said to be JOHN THE BAPTIST by
JESUS. Here is the connecting link most directly seen - one thread of a
woven garment of truth between old and new.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
We must also see that JESUS knew the Old Testament VERY WELL. He is
seen very early at 12 years old debating and sharing ideas with learned
Rabbies in the Synagogue. When undergoing temptation before actualizing
his teaching he responded to each with quotes from the Old Testament.
The reminds inquirers of the importance of the Commandments and Covenant
for eternal life and offers exact answers to questions with Old
Testament events. Even more, at the Mount of Transfiguration he is seen
with Moses and Elijah (two representative of the entire word of the Old
Testament) in parallel understanding of the whole teaching. Finally,
after His Resurrection he visits the disciples in his (4th) body
and opens their minds to what all of the Old Testament teaches
regarding Himself.
For particular Old Testament teaching he amplifies them and
"interiorizes" their meaning. We find this with phrases like:
"You have heard it said . . . . . ., but I say to you . . . . "
Thus there are TWO levels of understanding where the Old teaching is
confirmed and at the SAME TIME intersified WITHOUT dispensing with the
former meaning; i.e., one must learn and do the NEW meaning without
neglecting the old meaning. Jesus HIMSELF weaves this garment of truth
bringing the WHOLE WORD TOGETHER. It is UP TO US to seek out and
understand these threads and to find the garment.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
ALL of the NEW TESTAMENT revolves in one way or another around
JESUS/CHRIST
as the central figure and the center of events and meaning(s)
This is written in:
GOSPELS - ACTS - EPISTLES/Letters - REVELATION
This flows as:
John the Baptist - Jesus - Holy Spirit - Community - Consumation
The GOSPELS:
show John the Baptist - Jesus - Holy Spirit
ACTS:
show work of the Holy Spirit with the Disciples,
and the beginning of Community
EPISTLES/letters:
show the Holy Spirit/Inner Christ and community
REVELATION:
shows consumation.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
JOHN THE BAPTIST John was a desert figure who
was dressed is skins and cloth and lived
a strict ascetic life. His was a harsh
existence. He came to PREPARE THE WAY for JESUS
(He may have been trained in the Essene
Community [of the Dead Sea Scrolls])
He preached to the people and baptised them.
(Baptism PARALLELS Circumcision in the Old Testament)
His purpose was to help purify them to make them ready for
the teachings and activities of Jesus.
(Prophets speak of "Circumcision of the Heart" as this same
Inner Purification)
John BAPTISED with WATER - but - said that Jesus would Baptise with "The
Holy Spirit and with Fire".
John BEGAN preaching a * CENTRAL IDEA * in the New Testament:
____ M E T A N O I A ____
(Greek)
This word is mistranslated as "repent" which for most of us
=============
has a sentamental connotation of ":being sorry:". Instead it
means META = beyond
NOIA = Mind indicating a complete change of mind or a
new mind, or better yet, a level of mind
above our "normal" mental activity.
The second idea John began to teach is another CENTRAL IDEA:
________ THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN _________
(Or the Kingdom of God)
(or the Realm of God's Imperial Rule)
John prepared people for these TWO CENTRAL EVENTS, of which BAPTISM
was a preparation and sign.
He spoke OF Metanoia and the Kingdom, buy NOT ABOUT THEM.
-- --- ----- ----
He pointed to JESUS as the one who would BRING THEM INTO REALITY
John said of Jesus, he was not "worthy to untie his sandles".
ALSO:
Jesus said of John: that of all the Prophets he was the
GREATEST, but of all people in the Kingdom of Heaven he
was the LEAST!!
_____HERE is both a CONTINUITY and a BREAK in tradition____
========== =====
JOHN CULMINATES the tradition of the PROPHETS - - - the final
forthtelling, culmination of all the Prophets of Isreal.
But, JOHN stays outside the NEW COVENANT of the KINGDOM in Jesus' teaching.
{His way is harsh, a teaching of external reform for the most part, and
a way characterized as "taking the Kingdom of God by violence" (Jesus)}
John continues to preach and Baptise even as Jesus begins and progresses
in his teaching and activities. Some of John's disciples leave him and
follow Jesus. John is eventually imprisoned. John (strangely) sends
some of his followes to Jesus and asks "if he is the one to come, or
should we be seeking someon else" (Jesus' teaching and activities are
so dissonant with John's expectations). John is finally beheaded on the
request of Herod. (This part of John's life was dramatized by Oscar
Wilde and made into the Opera ":Solome:" by Richard Strauss)
< Here we have an important point - this "Dissonance" which John and his
followers felt about Jesus and his Disciples CONTINUES through Jesus'
entire life as seen in the opinions and activities of the Ranking Hebrew
Religious leaders characterized in the Gospels as "Scribes and
Pharasees." > [ JUST HERE we will see the "Scribes and Pharasees"
within ourselves reacting in the EXACT SAME way against what JESUS
is teaching us ]
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
JESUS/CHRIST
"Jesus Christ came to make the Invisible God Visible"
-Glenroy Wolfsen
Before looking at the meaning of Jesus in more detail as seen in
the Scripture we call the New testamant it may be even more important to
look at THE MEANING OF OUR OURSELVES IN THE EYES OF JESUS. All that we
learned in the Old Testament may be applied to each of us in Eyes of
Jesus.
Each of us begins in the Garden of Eden - we are calls out of our
"foreign land" by God as was Abraham and given a promise; we are also
there in the Slavery of Egypt, then in a long Wandering to find our
true promised land, where on the way we are at the foot of the Mountain
where Moses brings to Covenant of the 10 comandments to us.
We battle to take root in our true Canaan, and find our place amid the
others there before us. We respond to the temptations of all the evils
awaiting our lives and listen and not listen to the inner prophets that
sing us their words. We fail and fall into exile and from there
sometimes remember the ancient words of truth and find our home again.
But in all this, we have not yet seen a destiny. We are still in the
world.
Beyond this then, the EYES of JESUS see us even more fully: it is best
expressed by this single line from an essay written in New York City
around 1929:
" Every man is not only a book but a scripture"
A. R. Orage: "How to Read Men"
[in On LOVE & Psychological Essays]
- = - = - = - = - = - = - = -
As with John the Baptist;
Jesus ALSO Baptised, and Taught METANOIA,
A N D
added
* RE-BIRTH *
First) Baptism = Preparation for truth and community
Second) Metanoia = Complete reversal of mind
Third) RE-Birth = Death of self - birth of Self
(humiliation for the birth
of Love)
JESUS/CHRIST also was an OBJECT LESSON in his LIFE/DRAMA
He IS a SPECIAL kind of UNIFIED BEING
One could say He was what he Taught
He was an Idea in for form of a Person
He Did what he Said
He was the Process of
______MAKING THE HUMAN DIVINE______
He TAUGHT this PROCESS and LIVED IT OUT as an EXAMPLE or MODEL of
our own INNTER POTENTIAL
and OUTER ACTION
DIVINE/HUMAN, INNER/OUTER, TEACHING/LIFE, LOVE/WISDOM,
PRESENCE/ATTENTION
are some of the expressions of Poles Unified in His
Life Drama/Process
His METHODS of teaching included:
Baptism, Healing, Verbal Teaching, Dramatic Actions,
Challenge, Confrontation, Parable, Paradox, and Presence.
Jesus was focused, unified and perfectly flexable in light of
circumstances as they arose. Each and any event became for Him the
possibility for a teaching or example. He never made a move that was
not related to His "mission". He was in the constant "presence" or
unified "attention" which allowed Him to be TRANSPARENT to God. In
Buddhist terminology he was perfectly "centered".
What is UNIQUE about Jesus/Christ is that He WAS NOT BORN LIKE THIS
++++++++++++++++++++++
(As many Christians are taught to believe).
A VERY part of His "object lesson" is the necessity of being "human"
with the acknowledgement and struggle with "temptations" and the
stripping away of the layers of conditioning which hide the Inner Divine
in people. He was not "sinless":
SIN = "to Miss the Mark"
(Greek)
The temptations and struggles are the very ones we all have in the
process of OUR PERSONAL MISSION. WE must learn NOT TO MISS THE MARK and
to STRIP AWAY CONDITIONING
In so doing we UNIFY IN OUR PERSON OUR PORTION OF THE "EARTH" WITH
"HEAVEN".
Jesus "self-perfecton" in the process of Unifying the Divine and the
Human opened again to humanity the possibility of inner evoltion
of the human to the Divine. This restoring of the "WAY" gives the
WHOLE REASON FOR HUMAN EXISTENCE:
HUMANS A R E THE BRIDGE BETWEEN THE MATERIAL AND THE
SPIRITUAL.
Each of us is designed by God to perform his or her role
as this bridge.
Each of us is potentially a unit in the Body of God, an
Angel in the Heaven of His Being.
Jesus teaching/life "says" the process in words (The WORD) and in His
activities.
The WORD teaches reversal of mind, learning to listen to the
inner mind behind the senses (re-birth) and the weakening of the "false
personality" in favor of inner essence and inner (objective) conscience.
It teaches what we must "pay" for the Kingdon of Heaven, how we must
value it, and what changes in "personality/persona" are required and how
we react/relate to others.
THE P A R A B L E S
are unique to Jesus. EVERY WORD in a parable has a meaning.
They are made to hold meaning within meanings. Their revealing to us
depends on our state of being - as our being grows so do the parables'
meaning for us.
THE LEARNING PROCESS begins with our MIND. We must fIRST learn the TRUTH
of the WORD.
Then we may learn to do the GOOD from the TRUTH.
[ Truth without Good is Dead ]
[ Good without Truth is impossible ]
JESUS INSISTS that we NOT ONLY learn the Truth, but DO the Truth as
GOOD. With Jesus there is no division between the two.
"He who hears these words of mine and does them is like a man who
dug deep and built his house on a rock and the winds and the floods came
and could not shake the house; but the man who hears these words and
does them not is like unto one who built his house on the sand, and the
winds came and the waves came and it fell, and great was the fall of
it."
(Here there has always been debate in Relgions Denominations; for
example Lutheranism [ and Protestantism in General ] teaches "faith
only" is necessary for "salvation". Catholicism sometimes tends toward
"social justice and activism" on the other hand. In general,
conservative denominations emphasize faith and liberal denominations
emphasize works.)
The Epistle of JAMES strikes the balance: saying,
"Faith without Works in Dead"
MANY of the PARABLES point to the nature and reality of the
KINGDOM OF GOD.
What is it?. Where is it? What does it mean, and how may we
be a part of it?
(Most of this kind of Parables are in Matthew, where
they are in a sequence which shows the personal
transformation of ourselves leading to the KINGDOM)
The HEALINGS literally show Jesus LOVE for people and His compassion for
========
suffering - His restoring to wholeness. Beyond the literal they show
the healing of psychological and spiritual disfunction. They also
reveal the accumulation of POWER in Jesus - often when He was only
touched on a part of His clothing He would say: "Who touched me, I felt
the power go out of me."
The HEALINGS also show OUR PART in the process: At the conclusion of
almost all the healings Jesus said: "Your Faith has made you well."
Jesus expects US to WANT TO BE HEALED, and to BELIEVE we can be Healed.
(Where Jesus could NOT do healings was in his home town where his family
and friends were conditioned to remember Him as simple the young boy who
grew up with them) (On the other hand, where He COULD heal it was the
understanding and belief of Him that allowed his POWER to work)
[ Jesus marveled at one non-Jewish man who had been in the
military and understood the idea of ranks of command and
obedience - showing Jesus he understood the levels of
spiritual worlds Jesus was able to bring under His
control in Healings. To this Jesus said: "I have not seen
such faith in all of Isreal." ]
His ENCOUNTERS WITH PEOPLE teach COMMUNITY. He teaches by example and by
certain Parables that people need to BEAR one anothers UNPLEASANT
MANEFESTATIONS (rather than building and holding accounts against them).
Rather than thinking people OWE US SOMETHING (because of what we think
they think of us) we are to FORGIVE then these "debts".
We are to serves others rather than dominate them physically or
psychologically or spiritually. "He who would be greatest among you
should be your servant". Ideas and practices of PESONAL VANITY, PRIDE,
EGOTISM, and VIOLENCE are to "DIE" if we are to "LIVE". He confronted
all pretence and hypocracy and exposed it. He accepted all who others
considered "outsiders: and "less worthy" of being among the "in crowd"
whether that was economic, civil, or religious. In relationship with
people all suggestions of "reward" were to be dismissed. We don't do
GOOD so we can be rewarded or thought well of by others. We don't do
GOOD so that people owe us some reward or good in return.
GOOD IS TO BE DONE BECAUSE IT IS ITS OWN REWARD.
The ULTIMATE MOTIVATION for COMMUNITY and RELATIONSHIP
is L O V E.
"A NEW COMMANDMENT I give you; that you should LOVE
ONE ANOTHER as I have loved you."
THIS IT THE T H I R D COVENANT. Jesus affirms the
MOSAIC and the DAVIDIC covenants from the Old Testament and
brings all to completion with this NEW COVENANT of LOVE.
(With this Commandment Jesus also affirms the Old Testament
with these Words in answer to a question about how to obtain
"eternal life"
"You shall LOVE the Lord your God with all your strength.
with all your soul and with all your mind, and you shall
LOVE your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments
depend ALL the Law and the Prophets.")
In the two LONG SERMONS,- in Matthew called the SERMON on the MOUNT
============ ====== =====
and in Luke, called the SERMON of the PLAIN
====== =====
JESUS teaches his disciples the COMPLETE REVERSAL of our
concepts of ourselves and our ethics necessary to know
the spiritual reality normally hidden from us.
Again we see the attack on our SELF LOVE and LOVE OF THE WORLD -
This is EXACTLY the OPPOSITE of Jesus Commandment of
LOVE for GOD and LOVE for NEIGHBOR
These SERMONS ask us to undergo SELF-EXAMINATION
(Gurdjieff:"Self-observation")
AND a consciousness of REAL HAPPINESS ("Beatitude")
(Gurdjieff: "Self-remembering")
It is the most CHALLENGING confrontation of our way of thinking and of
living. (It can almost be conceived as a kind of "spiritiual
yoga" designed to transform our consciousness and behavior).
They show the practical meaning of the words:
"If any man would save his life, he must loose it, and
if any man loose his life for my sake he will save it.
For what would it do a man to gain the whole world and
loose his soul."
Jesus LIFE/DRAMA
++++++++++
Along with the HEALING and the TEACHING/PARABLES; his activities
show a MOVING revelation - a process of teaching - as DRAMA (as in a
mystery play). Events in TIME coming from OUT OF TIME.
He G r a d u a l l y opens the inner receptivity of the Disciples to
the Holy Spirit. He sent them out in groups (12 and 70) to test their
power in healing and teaching. They were both amazed at what they could
do and what they could NOT do.
TWO special events were pivit points in this dramatic teaching:
======
1) The TRANSFIGURATION on the mountain
Here Jesus took his 3 closest disciples, Peter,
James and John to a mountain where they underwent
a change in consciousness. Jesus appeared changed
with a sun-like glow on his face and cloth-
ing. In his presence were Moses and Elijah
who conversed together about the hidden meaning
of the Old Testament.
Here the Disciples SAW (inner revelation) in SPACE
the Divine form OUT OF SPACE. They saw in MATTER
(flesh) the ILLUMINATOIN from OUT OF MATTER.
2) Jesus' focused AIM toward His DEATH.
Here Jesus slowely opened the minds of the disciples
to a NEW WAY of "kingship" or Power. He eventually
began to hint that he was to be handed over to
authorities and to be killed (and rise again). He said
this as he focused on heading to Jerusalem (the Holy
City) where the TENSION and EXPECTATION were BUILDING
as to Jesus' ultimate lesson. The Jews EXPECTED a
miracle of power overthroughing enemies and
bringing in the "kingdom of David" . . . a last
mimute miracle fulfilling Old Testament
Prophesy.
(This is illustrated by two conversations with the
Disciples. First Jesus asks them who people think he is. They answer
that some think he is John the Baptist reincarnated, or Elijah or one of
the Prophets of old. He then asks; "but how do YOU say I am?" PETER
answers; "You are the annointed one (messiah) the Son of the Living
God." Jesus points out the "flesh and blood" have not revealed this to
Peter, but the Spirit.
Shortly later he drops the hint that he is to be mishandled and
eventually KILLED by authorities. Here PETER is taken-aback and shouts
that this will NEVER happen to Jesus and they will do everything in
their power to prevent it. Jesus lashes out againts Peter (after just
finishing praising him) and says; "Get behind me you Satan, you are
thinking from the ways of men and not the ways of God!")
Jesus continues his challenge to our thinking about the
nature of DIVINE POWER, (real power). His resolute
actions as he "sets his face toward Jerusalem" shows the
Disciples (and us) that POWER comes throught HUMILIATION
and the death of the EGO-SELF. It comes through the
knowledge that DISCIPLES of JESUS should EXPECT
"Crucifiction" from the "world", not glory. There is NO
POWER in political victory and conquest nor in personal
violence. He REVERSES (once again) completely our
"normal" way of dealing the challenge.
(When Jesus finally enters Jerusalem amid the shouts and expectations
he comes in riding on a donkey (!) and later weeps over the City because
they have not accepted Him or his miracles of His teachings.)
Jesus remains OPEN TO THE WILL OF GOD, knowing what it means for Him.
(At this point, many of the disciples have already left
Him and more begin to leave. Here also Peter
has reservations about following Jesus.)
[ It is intresting that it is the WOMEN who remain faithful
from here on and even are the FIRST to go to Jesus' tomb
acter the crucifiction. ]
* P R A Y E R *
As Jesus faces the Crucifiction we see him turn to PRAYER.
This is true thought His life. After difficult times with crowds of
people and long sessions of healing, Jesus departs from everyone and
goes to Pray. Jesus (especially in Luke) is never acting from His
"self", but it constantly present to God. He is "led by the Holy
Spirit" in activities and direction. He constantly restores His power
and his aim through Prayer.
Jesus also shared with his Disciples a Prayer which shows us
:how to pray: - it is known as "The Lord's Prayer" in the
church. It is not only a Prayer - but it is also a meditation
to be constantly pondered in one's heart - it can teach us
truth and reform our actions.
Our Father
Who art in Heaven
Hallowed be Thy Name
Thy Kingdom Come
Thy Will be done on Earth
As it is in Heaven
Give us this day
our *daily* bread
And forgive us our debts
As we forgive our Debtors
Lead us not into temptation
But deliver us form evil
(For Thine is the Kingdom this a possible
and the Power later addition
and the Glory to the prayer
Forever - Amen)
[ The word "daily" is a MIS-TRANSLATION of the Greek
in all Bibles. ]
The original Greek and Latin Bibles have NO "daily": instead
they have (latin) "Supersubstantialem" or supersubtantial
bread, but an even better translation of the Greek is
super-existing.
THUS; see the new meaning of the Prayer "Give us this day our
super-existing Bread" Consider this also that Jesus refers to
Himself as "the Bread of Life" and his institution of bread
to represent his flesh in the "last" supper.
In this case the prayer is asking for spiritual nourishment.
{Jesus also says that "man shall not live my 'bread' alone,
but by every word that proceeds from the Mouth of God.}
"LAST" SUPPER.
In Jerusalem Jesus finds a place for a very symbolic act we know
as the "last Supper" - known in the Church as
the Holy Communion or Eucharist.
It was a sharing of food and a washing of feet. (Remember the
tradition of taking off the shoes before enter Holy Places
in some Eastern Countries. The feet {and shoes} are what we
meet the earth with and they get dirty and dusty. Washing the
feet clean them of the "earths" residue, and internally wash
us from the sensate concerns and clinging that hinder our
higher centers.)
The LAST SUPPER was done at
the time of PASSOVER - and used Wine and Bread. Jesus said that
the Bread = His flesh, and the Wine = His Blood. He said that
Disciples should do this "in remembrance of Him" It was a deep
sharing, an "eating" of the essense of Jesus - a connection
which also brought another "THREAD" from the Old Testament.
(The blood of sacrifices was always sprinkled on the
alter and on the people - and sacrificial offerings were
in general refered to as "bread" . . and the 'mannah'
supplied to the wondering tribes in the desert was a
miraculous bread.) [ The blood of the lambs sprinkled
on the door posts at Passover saved the Jews from
being slain in Egypt ]
[ The liturgical activity of this supper in the church
shows a major division between Catholics and
Protestants. For Catholics the elements become the
ACTUAL body/blood of Christ with the word of the Priest
[through "transubstantiation"]
- the "sacrifice" of the cross happens again. For
Protestants the elements are symbols only, and there
is no repeat "sacrifice", which was done "once and
for all on the cross". ]
This is also done with foot washing by Jesus -
a sign of cleansing of the outer person to make ready for the
inner cleansing of the supper.
He commands us to do likewise for our friends. This is also done in the
context of LOVE for one another. One CANNOT say one LOVES GOD if he
does NOT LOVE his FELLOW MAN.
What is the SUPPER about? There are LEVELS of the meaning of
REMEMBERING here. In "rememberance of me" implies that the
Holy Spirit is tied to this supper - for the Spirit comes to
the Disciples and "reminds" them of all the things Jesus
taught them. (This in ACTS) How do we "remember" Jesus
at the Eucharist or the Communion? What do we Remember?,
in this remembering are we also "remembering" our
"dismembered" selves that can also be "re-membered"?
There are also levels of the BODY
of Christ. Body/Blood - bread/wine - remembering.
Christ had not only the physical body - He had a 2nd, 3rd and
4th body. The 2nd is the emotional/astral body which appeared
in the Garden outside the tomb to the women looking for him.
(He told the woman not to touch Him, because He had not
ascended to the Father yet - this Body was not the ascended
[or ascending] body)
The 3rd is the mental body which is the one which appeared
to the disciples through the walls of the dwelling where they
were hiding after his crucification.
(This body displayed the wounds of the crucifiction and He
also showed that he was "real" by eating - it was substantial
and yet of a higher vibration to pass through whatever material
made up the Disciple's dwelling)
The 4th or the Will/Master
body is the one with which he appeared to many in different
places at the same time (to at least 11 different people); this
last body is capable of altering matter so that He could be in
many places at once.
(This body is the Master Body which displays itself through
it's own will in whatever form it deems appropriate to the
"lessons" needed - it is a "will" Body where Intent/Love
Master all lower levels of materiality)
Thus: we MAY be participating with Jesus the RISEN Christ
in this SUPPER at a level we are not aware of unless we are
purified in ourselves; at the level of any of these Bodies
but the last level: His Eternal Body.
{{ It is ONLY if we ourselves also have built our WILL BODY
" Real I"; only with this do we at Death, become a "cell"
or other function IN His Eternal Body }}
--
[- It is thus not ONLY the reality of the levels of Body of
Christ - but also the state of the witness; in reality
Jesus Christ (after the Resurrection) does not change; OUR
receptivity to these levels changes as we purify. This is
one function of the SUPPER: our RESPONSIBILITY to the
SUPPER is to do the "WORK". -]
the T R I A L and
Crucificaton.
Jesus is more intense and confrontational in Jerusalem and
outide the city in His final teaching, miracles and activity. He
exposes the absolute failure to understand Him on the part of many,
especially those of the "official" religious classes. He demonstrates
his UNITY with GOD - that what He says and does is NOT from Him, but
only from GOD. He tells everyone that they in fact can also do
NOTHING outside of Him - i.e., that all that we are
and do if it is REAL if from GOD, not ourselves.
Thus: He sets up the
GREATEST CONTRAST POSSIBLE
and polarizes the time to the maximum. Tension and polarity charge the
air and the events. All "truths" that play for acceptance are "up for
grabs". There is no turning back and Jesus looks straight at the
people and makes them CHOOSE:
DRAMA EXTERNALLY OF EVERYONE's
INNER CHOICE.
TWO EVENTS typify this period:
=== 1) Pilot's Question
2) Peter's Denial
PILOT'S QUESTION:
-----------------
Jesus is taken from the Garden of Gethsemani upon
Judas' betrayal and is essentially tossed back and forth
between Roman and Jewish authorities . . . no one wants to
deal with Him. (Pilot is even warned by his wife who had
a dream to not deal with Jesus). Eventually Pilot himeself
finds no reason for his death, and wants to free him. To
do this he offers Barrabas OR Jesus to the people (Barrabas
first name was also Jesus!!) Meanwhile the people are whipped
up to ask for the death of Jesus.
NOW: INSIDE Pilot's hall before this final appeal Pilot is
face to face with Jesus. In questioning Jesus about what he
thinks he might have done to arouse this :trial: Jesus tells
that He came to "witness to the Truth". Here Pilot asks his
FAMOUS QUESTION: "WHAT IS TRUTH?"
Jesus stands in front of Pilot in total silence.
Some consider that here Jesus did NOT answer Pilot.
---
Rather than this; here is Jesus answer:
Truth is PRESENCE
Thrth is SILENCE
ABSOLUTE PRESENCE is the positive power of BEING.
ABSOLUTE SILENCE is the positive power of UNITY.
Silence is the undifferentiated Unity which is God from
Whom came the Presence of Jesus - the Fully Present Man
the Fully Conscious Man - the Fully God-Man.
THIS WAS THE SILENT PRESENCE IN FRONT OF PILOT
which answered his question fully.
PETER'S DENIAL
==============
Remember that Peter was one of the three (along with
James and John) who were with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration;
He was the one who declared his FAITH that Jesus was the annointed of
God; he was the one who Jesus called "Satan" when he refused to accept
Jesus treatment and death.
While Jesus was in the Hall the High Priest there were many
outside who were awaiting and trying to find out what was
happening. One of them was Peter. Before Jesus was taken
Peter had refused to accept Jesus' ordeal to come, but if it
was to come Peter said HE WOULD STICK WITH JESUS no matter what.
To this Jesus said:
"Before the cock crows you will deny me three times!"
What did Jesus know about Peter that Peter DIDN'T know about
himself?
(As it happened outside the Hall were some women - and one
seemed to recognize Peter from his accent as heing among Jesus'
disciples. She asked him if he was one of them - he said "Of
course not". A little later another women seemed to remember
having seen him with other discipels and asked him about it.
Again he said, "not me". Finally he was asked by another about
his relationship with Jesus and he said he Didn't now Jesus -
and just as he said this, the cock crew.
As soon as Peter heard it, he broke down and
"WEEPED BITTERLY")
Jesus knew that PETER HAD ONLY ACCEPTED HIM E X T E R N A L L Y
Peter knew Jesus as an authority figure, an idol, a Man who
did the impossible and taught amazing things.
But Peter did NOT KNOW JESUS EMOTIONALLY - he did not know him
FROM HIS OWN INNER UNDERSTANDING - outwardly yes, inwardly, no.
Only when Peter FELT what he had DONE to Jesus in this Denial
did he begin to KNOW JESUS INSIDE HIMSELF. He FELT Who Jesus
was and Knew Him in a new way. The cock ":woke Peter up:" and
this shock gave him the depth of understanding he needed.
[ As Maurice Nicoll writes in "The Mark":
He (Peter) saw the distance that lay between what he
knew and what he was. In place of merely knowing he
began to understand ]
So we may know "of Jesus" externally, but we do not feel Who
He is and what He says as a part of ourselves because we have
not "understood" Him. Knowing is mental; understanding is
from within - through experience of bringing His words into
practice and having emotional relationship with them.
We would "weep" if we knew the distance that lay between what
we know ABOUT Jesus and who we are in relation that... In
relation to the life He places before us to live.
During this final period of Jesus, there are powerful
* FAIRWELL DISCOURSES*
====================
Jesus utters scathing criticism of the religous establishment
calling them blind leaders and hypocrates. This is typified
in the lines:
"You strain out a nat and swallow a camel"
and
"You are whited tomb stones all human bones within"
Emphasized is the absolute DISCORD between Exterior and Interior
- outer acting of the part of religion but inner vanity and
pride - love of self. More concern for what other people
think of you than what God requires.
He laments the Center of Jewish Religous Life: JEUSALEM. This
symbol of all the holy history of the Hebrews and the center
of all the Temple rituals and services. He says:
"Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how I longed to take your little
ones under my care as a hen cuddles her chicks, but you
would not."
He also gave a clear picture of His mission by saying that
He never spoke his own words of acted his own actions, but
everyting He did was from God's will. He was completely
transparent to God and empty of self.
His parabolic image is striking: God is a vineyard master,
Jesus is the Vine and WE are the Branches. One must be
IN Jesus as Jesus in IN the Father. Branches MUST bear fruit,
or they are "cut off" and "burned". Branches that DO bear fruit
are "pruned" by God so they can bear more fruit. Then comes
this astounding statement:
"For without me you can do NOTHING"
We think we are living and "doing" and seem to be experiencing
human qualities - BUT, this is telling us that in all our
activies we are not "DOING" anything. We are acting and re-
acting.. We have NO ROOT in reality. We are adrift and
completely driven by the winds of life. (Compare the central
teaching of Gurdjieff - "man cannot do")
He warns that His departure is to be followed by His eventual
(or sudden) return. His "signs" of the return are of chaos,
distruction, confusion, and false leaders. The time of the
return ranges from far future to immediate (in His own
generation). One aspect of the time is the spread of the
"Good News" (Gospel) to the whole world. Another aspect
is the ROLE OF ATTENTION.
In parables and direct discourse Jesus warns about the state
of "sleep" and the state of nonpreperation. He states strongly
that one must be AWAKE and to WATCH - that is to have CENTERED
ATTENTION, an AWAKENED state. Another state of the time is to
take your life as a gifted supply of talent and to make is grow
into a greater supply. All we have is given to us, it is NOT
OURS to squander. It is the power for multiplication of the
gift that is our responsibility. He bluntly warns that any one
who only keep what he is given with no growth and evolution
will loose what he has. This is taught in another astounding
statement:
"To him who has even more will be given, but to him
who has not, even what he has will be taken away."
There is no "neutral" ground, either your are building on your
gifts or you are going backward (thought it may appear you are
preserving what you have). No matter how "little" you think you
are given, the principle applies.
When he COMES AGAIN He will appear in "the clouds" as He comes
"in Glory with all His Holy Angels". This is an image of
obscurity....of lack of clearity. It is also an image of ful-
fillment and purity. Thus we have a double image -
"CLOUDS" - "GLORY"
Clouds obscure the Sun and its brightness in the sky, and glory
shines brightly from a higher sphere than the sun. Angels are
messengers of truth and intermediaries between the absolute and
mankind.
With all these images we may say that Jesus comes again IN HIS
WORD.
He comes in the CLOUDS of the Literal understanding of His WORD
=================================
or the surface level of understanding, which "hide" the Glory
of the symbolic and *correspondential* depth of the WORD.
+==============================================+
The Angels know the hidden "esoteric" Gospel and enter mankind
as we are receptive. The clouded literal understanding keeps
away the real meaning but at the same time protects the WORD
from misunderstanding by those who are not ready and open. The
Glory and the Angels reveal the truth as the SECOND COMING in
anyone whose Interiors are opened as the Highest Doors of human
centers are opened.
Here the TIMES are both immediate (of His Generation) and
extended into the far future - His coming again happens forever
and right now.
[*correspondential* as in the sonnet:
"Nature is a temple from whose living pillars
Commingling voices emerge at times;
Here man wanders through forests of symbols
which observe him with knowing eyes".]
Baudelaire: "Correspondences"
DEATH
=====
Although the Crucifiction/Resurrection has more to say about Death; here
in the Fairwell there is an important teaching.
Jesus says that "In My Father's House are Many Mansions and
I go to prepare a Place for you. If it were not so I would
not have told you."
Many Mansions provides a fit habitation for the uniqueness of
the dweller. Jesus is indicating that there is not ONE PLACE,
but MANY MANSIONS:
====
There are differences that live in each among us,
which are provided for. What is that ESSENTIAL difference which
defines each "person" (latin=persona=mask)? Certainly not the
mask.
Here are two examples of this ESSENTIAL from two difference
sources; and from two different perspectives:
"We know we are master of the body. We know the
soul resides in us as a queen. The predominant
personality within - which no one has even seen
or handled; which even we ourselves see not, even
' as through a glass darkly '; invisible as God -
is, we know, the man within the man."
- Rev. Clarence Lathbury (Swedenborg Sermon)
"I would like to be able to draw a portrait with words
of this remarkable person, but I know how inadaquate
this will be. In my work with actors, I have learned
that impersonation succeeds if it can capture the rigid
areas in which a personality is imprisoned. Someone
whose life flows freely has none of this regidity on
which imitations or even descriptions can confortably
hang.
Madame de Salzmann had acheived this freedom through a
life devoted to the service of that UNKNOWN SOURCE OF
FINER ENERGY that can only become manifest when the
HUMAN ORGANISM IS COMPLETELY OPEN - open in body,
feeling and thought. When this condition is reached,
the INDIVIDUALITY DOES NOT VANISH; it is ILLUMINED in
every aspect and can play its true role, which is to
BEND AND ADAPT TO EVERY CHANGING NEED.
Madame de Salzmann would always rise graciously to
welcome a visitor. She would sit upright, still and
contained, and would respond with laughter or
seriousness, finding precisely the words and the idiom
that corresponded to the age and understanding of the
listener. Her speaking was NOT FOR HERSELF, she was
never carried away by her own memories or ideas; out of
the awareness of what was needed, out of listening to
the other person's state, she would speak directly to
the person so as to evoke a meaning or encourage an
action to arise. She was ALWAYS PRESENT, as close as
the need demanded - yet in this closeness SHE WAS NEVER
TO BR GRASPED. No one COULD HOLD HER, and SHE HELD ON TO
NO ONE."
-Peter Brook; Memories of Madame de Salzmann.
(Student of Gurdjieff)
P E R S E C U T I O N
and Testing
Jesus' FAIRWELL also warns that the world will not treat the
disciples well, for as it persecuted (and was yet to
persecute) Him, so it would them. It will as well persecute
ANY WHO LIVE AS JESUS and TEACH AS JESUS. The "world" is not
a place that Loves God or His Teachings. As Jesus said earlier
as told in John's Gospel: "Men do not come to the Light because
they love darkness, but that their deeds become known."
Therefore any disciples of Jesus should not be under any illusion
that their "doing good" and "helping people" will make them
liked - just the opposite - they will be hated from the numbers
of evils within the people who are of the world. Jesus
emphasized that his "Kingdom" was NOT of this World. He also
said: "Fear not, for I have overcome the World."
Before Jesus's trial He takes His disciples to the Garden of Gethsemany
where He prays. He asks Disciples to watch and pray with Him, but they
fall "asleep" three time!! His prayer is that the "cup" of the
Crucifiction be taken from Him. He sweets (like blood) in anguish, but
concedes to God's will.
We must understand that that CRUCIFICTION is PLANNED
as a part of Jesus' ACTED DRAMA - it is God's Plan for
Him.
(There is a strange incident recorded in Scripture at this point; why is
it recorded and preserved, what does it mean? - as Jesus is to be taken
by those to arrest him He is praying - with Him is only an un-identified
young man who is naked other than a single outer robe. When
authorities come the man quickly leaves; droping the robe behind him as
they attempt to grab him as well; he runs away naked)
He is arrested in the Garden and dragged to the Authorities:
ROMAN
and JEWISH.
They have a hard time convicting Him. Witness (false) stories do not
match. He is shuttled back and forth between Annanias, Herod and
Pilate. The Sanhedron (official court of the Jews) convict Him on
RELIGIOUS grounds: He claims to he "The Son of God" which
is heresy. POLITICALLY he is no threat.
PILATE "washes his hands" of Jesus - but the CROWD says: "let His blood
then be on us and on our children." +++++
PILATE t r i e s to FREE Jesus by offering the CROWD (Jesus) BARRABAS
- BUT the "CHIEF PRIESTS AND SCRIBES" work the CROWD to Crucify Jesus
Christ.
As Jesus is taken he is treated as a criminal and mocked, spit
on, slapped, beaten and had a characature of a "King".
The Roman Soldiers in charge DISPLAY JESUS AS A MOCK POLITICAL KING with
purple robe and crown of thorns. Finally he is given His cross to carry
to "The Place of the Skill" = Golgotha. A young man passerbye is made
to substitute for Jesus in carrying the cross.
While walking together a group of Women weep and cry for
Jesus, but he tells them not to weep for him -
BUT TO WEEP FOR THEMSELVES - then this seminal statement:
"IF THEY DO THIS WHILE THE WOOD IS GREEN, WHAT WILL THEY DO
WHEN IT IS DRY?!"
The barbarism, cruilty, shamless displays of mocking,
disrespect, and ultimately death occur While the Wood
is still GREEN. Is this "green wood" Jesus Himself?, is
it "Christianity", or the "Church". Who is "they"?
What is the "dry wood"?, is it Jesus after His death, is
it the drying up of "Christianity" or the "church"?
Is it yet the POWER of the WORD while still fresh, and
then the gradual dilution and misunderstanging of this
WORD in time? Whatever the answer(s) Jesus points
toward a "weeping" for ourselves and not for Him!,
toward a "weeping" for the depths of human cruilty
bindness and darkness - because if people can treat
Jesus like this while He is yet right in front of them
think how they will treat each other in the absense of
His "light".
Jesus is accompanied by two other crimials on the way to the
Crucifiction Hill. Once there they try to give Him a drink, then nail
His wrists and feet to the wood and lift it up that His physical life
might drain away slowely.
The male disciples are all gone: it is only women and his
Mother who witness from a distance. From time to time Jesus
speaks from this Cross of Crucifiction. In Churches these
statements are sometimes refered to as the "Seven Last Words".
As His final witness He again bridges the Old Testament
with the "new" by quoting Psalm 22:
"My God, My God, why hast Thou Forsaken Me?
How far from saving me, the words I groan!
I call all day, my God, but you never answer
All night long I call and cannot rest . . . .
Yet here I am, now more a worm than a man,
scorn of mankind, jest of the people,
all who see me jeer at me,
they toss their heads and sneer,
' He relies on God, let God save Him!!
If God is his friend, let Him rescue him!' . .
I am like water draining away,
my bones are all disjointed,
my heart is like wax,
melting inside me;
my palate is drier than a potsherd
and my tongue is stuck to my jaw.
A pack of dogs surrounds me,
A gang of villains closes me in;
They tie me hand and foot
And leave me lying in the dust of death.
I can count every one of my bones,
and they glare at me, gloating;
they divide my garments among them
and cast lots for my clothing . . . . .
(Jerusalem Bible)
The soldiers meanwhile at the foot of the cross cast lots to see
who will get His left-over clothing as others jeer
at Him and mock Him and cry out vile words.
He also said: "Forgive them, for they know not what they do."
In practice people who were participating could
nor have known - they "were not home" . .
nothing was there to tell them to
be aware of what they
were doing.
Nothing Interior - they hadn't heard his voice
nor wanted to.
The crucifiction Cross is a symbol of manking killing the truth
in what ever ways they "betray" what is given for their true purpose....
in terms of the Word, it is to betray its depth - to fall into
literalism and legalism. . to see it with the eyes of the senses only.
Jesus reminds us that to follow Him we must "Take up our Cross". What
does this mean? We are our own burden - this we are meant to carry.
(Notebook of Jame Heap)
Escaping ourselves with self-calming and denial and lying about who we
really are is to NOT take up our Cross. For all this in us must at last
be Crucified.
Jesus was taken form the Cross and burried in an unused tomb
which was covered with a large stone. Afterward, the authorities
wanted this stone "sealed" so that the Disciples would not take His body
away and then claim that He rose form the dead as He said he would - so
they sealed it and put soldier guards there. Three days passed.
RESURRECTION
++++++++++++
After the three days, the WOMEN came to "see" the tomb and found
the stone removed, his linen shroud folded and an angel inside - the
guards were stunned and seemed unconsciouis. Mary Magdeline wanted to
find his body and spoke to what appreared as a gardener asking where the
body was - but as soon as the "gardner" spoke, she realized it was
JESUS. He wouldn't let her touch Him because it wasn't yet His
Spiritual Body - but He indicated future appearances.
[ The shroud refered to above is the source of the
shroud of Turin ]
This begins a SERICES OF APPEARANCES BY JESUS IN various
BODIES and to various people, some at the SAME TIME.
Jesus' life (as we show) involved continual
work toward this time. He lived through the
struggle of doing God's Will and lived out
temptations. In the Struggle and process He
MADE HIS HUMAN DIVINE. (This is what is meant
by His "glorification") Also in this process
He crystalized his inner 3 additional bodies;
the emotional body, the mental body, and the
spiritual (will) body. With these bodies
He appeared to many depending on the meed and
the reason for His appearance.
As Jesus appeared to the disciples and to other He choose the form most
appropriate. In general He appeared INCOGNITO (changed form) but not
always.
Here once more, Jesus provides more thread LINKING the
OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. Joining Disciples on a road to
Emmaus (incognito) He asks them about what they are
talking about and thinking - they explain recent events, and
then He explicates to the the entire meaning of the Historical,
Prophetic books and Psalms which refer to Him. Only after they
reach their destination does He make Himself known, then the
Disciples say: "No wonder our hearts burned within us as He
was speaking!"
He also points toward the EVENT of the HOLY SPIRIT and a
commission to Spread this WORD through the region and
eventually the World.
Jesus ascends to the Father, and completes His Mission - He proves
that Death is not final and points to way to Eternal Life. He is the
example and the teaching that liberates and combines the
Heaven with the Earth. As He said:
"I am the Way, the Truth and the Life"
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=======+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+++=+=+==++=========+=+=+=+=+=+
ACTS
====
(This is the second book written by the writer of the Gospel
of Luke)
ACTS: Acts follow right on the Resurrection and begins
the Mission of teaching by the Disciples. It also shows
the growth and nature of the first "communities" of followers.
It also PROVES the RESURRECTION. There is a COMPLETE and
RADICAL change in the Disciples from the frightened and
sometimes confused group after the Crucifiction and even
after the pre-rising appearances. There is no other way
to explain this change other than Jesus promise that:
* After He Ascended, He would SEND THE HOLY SPIRIT. *
===========
This event inspired and infused them and gave them both
remembrance of all He taught, and inpowered them.
this is know in the Church and PENTECOST.
=========
Acts traces the teachings of the Disciples and some of the
immediate persecution of the first teachers. It also show the
FIRST COMMUNITIES of Christians - not necessarily "churches" as
we know them, but people living in the teachings of Jesus with
all material things in common.
The CENTRAL event in Acts the CONVERSION TO SAUL and His name
change to PAUL. Saul was a very intellegent Jewish persecutor
of the earlies Christians. In the midst of his activities he
was visited by a BLINDING LIGHT and the VOICE OF GOD: "Saul,
Saul, why persecutist thou me?" Saul was thrown from his
horse and blinded in this experience. He then was opened to
and interior presence of the Spirit of JESUS - and was changed
completely and became the MOST IMPORTANT MISSIONARY of the
Christian movement.
PAUL is responsible for the establishment and training
of all the FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCHES (as we know
"churches" today).
Acts records Paul's beginning testamony, and his
starting of the first churches, and his problems
with Hebrew Authorities (which will be continuous)
and an early imprisonment. His style of teaching
and speaches are introduced in Acts.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
PAUL's EPISTLES (Letter)
These Letters of Paul's are to the many Churches that he had
established (and a few he didn't). Each letter is named for the Church
to which it is addressed...(exceptions are some letters to individuals).
They were usually intended to be read to the entire "congregation".
Most have the Central Idea of Helping to keep the assembly on the
RIGHT PATH/TEACHING.
Paul uses language almost as a Laywer . . . his arguments are "thick" or
dense with meaning; he uses MANY REFERENCES to the OLD TESTAMENT (his
personal religious heritage) and adds NEW LANGUAGE of his own.
The contrast between "flesh" and "spirit", and Old ADAM and the NEW
ADAM, the LAW and GRACE are some favorite themes. Jesus Christ's
NEW REVELATION and NEW COVENANT abolish the OLD (as opposed to Jesus
who integrated the two). Paul tends to set up great POLARITIES where
Jesus tended to INTEGRATE POLATIRIES.
Paul presents the important teaching of the
BODY OF CHRIST
--------------
Using the model of the human body, where each part is necessary
and contributes to the whole, where each part is unique in
function but vital to total function:
EACH CHRISTIAN'S TALENTS ARE A PART
OF A MYSTICAL BODY WHO IS CHRIST IN
FUNCTION.
(See Ist Corinthians, 12:12-30)
Paul presents the important teaching of UNITY IN CHRIST:
---------------
Racial and gender and political divisions are overcome,
people are ONE in Christ.
Paul presents a beautiful vision of the meaning of LOVE:
----
The quality of the presence of LOVE overshadows all other
qualities of the Christian. Each and every moral virtue
is "nothing" if the presence of this quality of LOVE is
missing. (See Ist Corinthians, Ch. 13)
[This writing on love is frequently used in Wedding ceremonies]
Paul presents the vision and teaching of the SPIRITUAL BODY
--------------
Paul, because of the radical breakthrough of the Spirit of
Christ in his "conversion" experience, had many other spiritual
experiences, and was raised into higher levels of consciousness. He
meantions these only in passing (as a matter of humility) but reveals
a vision of another BODY after DEATH built of the inner spirit of a
Christian. Paul uses many metaphores for this body, including
that of a "tent" body.
(see Ist Corinthians 15:31-52)
A very original idea from Paul is expressed in the original Greek
word used in an epistle: KENOSIS: = (Greek) "emptying"
----------
This word comes amid a poetic-like "hymn" revealing a quality
of Jesus. (Philippians 2:6-11)
Jesus was equal with God but "emptied
Himself" and took on the form of a servant - even
the ultimate self-emptying of death. This humiliation
of complete self-emptying resulted (eventually) in the
polar opposite of exaltation (by God) so that His "Name"
is above every other name. This is one of the essential
missions of Jesus; to be the example of a complete
giving-up of the (egoic) self-image in favor of
emptyness _(nothingness)_ which then can be filled
completely with the mystery we name "God".
Kenosis also demonstrates another TEMPTATION that JESUS OVECAME.
(It is shown in the Gospels as the "temptation in the
wilderness" - there Jesus was tempted to use His "powers" for
selfish purposes - power which would have easily made of Him an
idol in the eyes of those seeking a political leader.) A MODERN
interpretation is termed the "Messianic Complex" [Preston
Harold: The Shining Stranger]. Humans are very easily aroused
to idolize any charismatic leader, and the leader is equally
templed to become an idol. He essentially assumes the identity
of the powers of "God" to himself and allows people to project
onto himself the powers of "God". The eyes of both leader and
follower are closed in this "hypnotic" relationship - feeding
the perpetual gradiosity of the leader, and resultant impotence
of the followers. This is the ESSEENCE of the CULT, and the
hidden dynamic of the Dictator.
JESUS REFUSED A CULTIC relationship with the people. JESUS
REFUSED A DICTATORIAL dynamic to world history. Much of the
misunderstanding of Jesus results from just this kind of
expectation of the part of people from Jesus. Beware of any
"church" which makes of Jesus such an "idol".
In MOST of Paul's letters, he instructs with major statements on the
importance of FAITH.
------
He supports his teaching with many Old Testament Examples.
FAITH is the first step in the leading
of the Christian life. Belief makes change possible. If one
cannot believe in anythings beyond the visible, than no higher
levels of influence are possible for the person; one is
essentially closed off.
"Only Faith can guarantee the blessings that we hope for,
or prove the existence of the realities that at present
remain unseen." (Hebrews - Jerusalem Bible).
From the teachings on Faith, Luther and Luteranism has evolved
the doctrine of "faith only" as the means of "salvation". This
is also passed on to most "Reformed" churches as well. . . thus
to the majority of the "Protestant" Denominations. (Calvin, for
example goes even futher and says that salvation isn't even
only a matter of faith, because some are "PREDESTINED" to be
saved and others are not) [Calvin= an important reformation
leader]
Another teaching in Paul's letters has become known as the "Vicarious
Atonement". This means that by Grace, Jesus Christ has offered
up His life on the Cross as a SUBSTITUTE for our "death" which
we "deserve" because of our "sins". This "free" gift we cannot
earn (much less deserve) but can only accept as a gift of Grace.
[ This emphasis amplifies the doctrine of "faith only" even
further - because to do any good works means to attempt to
earn this gift - and we cannot do good anyway because we are
totally evil. ] (The implication here is that God
would destroy us all, but substituted His Only Son
as a sacrifice for us) (This also implies that all
"non-Christians" automatically are destroyed, as they
do not have faith in Jesus Christ)
This doctrine derived from a certain reading of Paul goes
TOTALLY AGAINST THE EXOTERIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE GOSPELS
and of all the "Traditional" Wisdom from the exoteric schools.
It totally undermines man's responsibility, cooperation and
freedom in regard to his regeneration and goes against much
testamony from both Old and New Testament writing.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
GENERAL EPISTLES
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
These are letter to all Christian and not necessatily written
bu Paul. Here I give ONE EXCEPTION:
The Letter called "HEBREWS"
+++++++
(It has been a debate from the beginning whether this letter
is or is not written by Paul. The style and content are against
his authorship....therefore, some will include this letter in
the section of Paul's letter and some will not. I include this
in the GENERAL EPISTLES, and NOT in PAUL's.)
HEBREWS is a unique letter:
-------
(Hebrews is an esoteric writing in the tradition of Matthew)
It is written from mostly Old Testament examples and
also uses much of the WISDOM books. It show Jesus Christ as
the High Priest and the King. To do this it brings together
elements from the DAVIDIC COVENANT (In the Old Testament).
The Covenant with the Line of David for an Eternal Kingship
is combined with the same theme as amplified in Psalm 110.
PSALM 110 adds the strange and enegmatic figures
from the Book of Genesis called MELCHIZEDEK; King
of Salem (i.e., [Hebrew] = peace) There in Genesis
he is depicted as a "King forever" and one having no
patents. And as Priest, He is given offerings by Abraham,
and Serves Abraham BREAD and WINE (as in the Lord's Supper).
[Keep in mind that this is at the VERY BEGINNING of the
History of the First Hebrew Ancestor]
In Hebrews, the Davidic Kingship combines with the Priesthood
of Melchizedek as REPRESENTING THE TRUE MEANING OF JESUS CHRIST.
Hebrews then makes a direct link between the Old and New
testaments with this central representation. along with more
examples (or "types").
A CENTRAL TEACHING IS A " N E W C O V E N A N T "
+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+
Jesus is revealed as the
NEW MEDITOR between the Divine and the Human
replacing the Old Covenant(s) which were "types" or symbols
but now "old" and being replaced. Again this is to fulfill
YET ANOTHER OLD TESTAMENT COVENANT from the
PROPHET J E R E M I A H:
---------------
This covenant is UNIQUE in the Old Testament in that
it is an INNER COVENANT most appropriate to the meaning of
Jesus. Hebrews QUOTES Jeremiah's covenant -:
" . . . I will put my law on their hearts,
Then I will be their God and they shall be my people.
There will be no further need for neighbor to try
to teach neighbor, or brother to say to brother,
' learn to know the Lord',
No, they will all know me,
the least no less then the greatest,
since I will forgive their iniqueties
and never call their sins to mind."
(Hebrews 8:8-12. Jerusalem Bible)
Hebrews also reiterates the Old Testament use of Blood as
a part of the sacred ceremonies at the Altar and then teaches
the Jesus' Blood is a COVENANT for the forgiveness
of Sins.
CENTRAL TEACHING of HEWBREWs is the CONJUNCTION OF GOD AND MAN
THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Two of the General Letters may have been written by
Jesus' BROTHERS.
It is presently agreed that JAMES was written by Jesus'
brother, and JUDE may have been. Of the two book, JAMES
+++++
reflects very practical teaching and strikes an important
BALANCE BETWEEN 'FAITH' AND 'WORKS'. This is expressed in the
famous statement:
"Faith without works is dead".
The letter shows the areas of human psychology and activity that are the
most neglected in ourselves - areas that must be worked on and "cleaned"
for those who hope to become followers of Jesus. This is to first
actually see and acknowledge these "negatiivities", then to restore to
the life and healthy positives. This letter has powerful Wisdom (as in
the tradition of the Old Testamament Wisdom Books) as well as a writing
by someone close to Jesus and close to the thinking of one
very important community of early Christians.
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
R E V E L A T I O N
+=================+
Revelation is the LAST book in the BIBLE and the New Testament.
It is a wholly symbolic book with a thick and rich tapestry. It is
written from a VISION induced by the Spirit by a man who was in a state
described as IN THE SPIRIT.
This book has engendered MORE ATTEMPTS AT INTERPRETATION than
any other Biblical book. The only other book is DANIEL in the Old
Testament - a book also rich in symbolism and interpreted in many
different ways as well. REVELATION is linked through symbolism
--------- ------ ---------
to many many passages in the Old Testament, including the book of
Daniel.
It is an apocalyptic book: a book dealing with "end-times" - the end of
a period, a cycle, or an aeon. Some interpret it as dealing with the
literal end of the world.
It brings the times of the end to the phenomina of errors and
falsities. Several "churches" are cited as typifying grave mistakes
made in community by Christians and the judgement upon these errors.
This then is expanded to the errors made by world in its own self-love
and self-interests; in it's failure to incorporate and live as Jesus
taught and the judgements upon these errors.
GOOD and EVIL are at war... (Bringing to completion the idea of
the war between good and evil in the Garden of Eden in the opening of
Genesis)
It is revealed that within each person is a TOTAL AND PERMINANT
MEMORY inscribed in our organism which is READ as a BOOK after DEATH,
and thus we are revealed to ourselves and to God. It is there that the
value of life is shown in its RESULTS AND BEHAVIOR - for results and
behavior are the EFFECTS of our beliefs and our knowledge . . . which can
otherwise not be known. (This is contra the Lutheran justification by
faith only.)
Revelation through symbols and correspondentials highlights the
vast but invisible reality of the SPIRITUAL WORLDS. Revelation teaches
======= ================
that it is IN THE SPIRITUAL WORLD that what is MOST REAL AND MOST
IMPORTANT HAPPENS. They are the causes behind the visible. If the
Spiritual Worlds were not, then nothing material could exist. There is
continual creation from the Spiritual to the Material world. The
SPIRITUAL WORLD is both "HIGHER" than and at the same time "INTERIOR TO"
--------------- ------------ -----------
the material world. We have both the HIGHER and INNER as the same
reality. As humans we tend to measure everything by the most exterior
and lower reality; the senses. The interiors and higher are therefore
mostly INVISIBLE to us. To the extent that we are involved in our inner
world we become more under the influence of the Higher or Spiritual
worlds.
* THE CENTRAL FIGURE *
Central figure is a MANDALA of a SQUARE jeweled CITY of the
N E W J E R U S A L E M. (Fulfillment of all the Old
Testament Most Holy symbols)
It is the reality which comes with a NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH.
It comes down from Heaven. It is walled for protection with 12
gates. With it GOD DWELLS WTIH MAN ( the conjunction of the
Heaven/Earth - the GOD/MAN is complete ). What ENDS is fragmentation;
what BEGINS is wholeness and union.
What is remarkable about the CITY is its luminosity - it is made
of all things which illumine as jewels, gold and other jems. Thus it
plays the subtleties of light in all variations. This symbolization
through luminosity reveals that it is varieties of truth - light being
enlightenment and variations of the lumin are the interpretations of
truth variable as man and deep as colors. It reveals that the LITERAL
light of the WORD is now ILLUMINED as SYMBOLIC AND PSYCHOLOGICALLY RICH.
------ ------ --- -------
THe WORD invites depth of revelation and variety of interpretation. It
sparkles in beauty and light. It is transparent. (This vision opposes
the literalist interpretation of the Word posed by conservative and
fundamentalist Protestant denomninations.) (It also opposes the
one-interpretation method of church-authorized hirarchy as in the
Catholic Church)
[ It should be pointed out that this vision is very close to many OBE';s
and NDE's (Out of body experiences and Near Death experiences.) Many
documented reports share being present at scenes of such a city. ]
This CITY is the CENTRAL SYBOL of the Book of Revelation. Though there
are endless other symbols, and interpretations thereof, one aspect of
this city and its wall reveal a secret of this great Mandala:
Of this symbol; a phrase describing the MEASUREMENT OF THE
CITY WALL reveals a profound image.
" . . . and he measured the wall, 144 cubits, the measure of a
human being, the measure of an angel."
[Revelation 21:17 Schmit Bible (Latin to English)]
Here then is an equation: City = angel = man.
========
This spiritual city is interior to and higher than an angel, but
it is also the measure of an angel; the angel is interior to and higher
than a man, but it is also the measure of a man. So we have a
connection on discrete levels, but no less a connection, among the
levels of reality to which humans are to have access. This is our
destiny - to become a HEAVENLY CITY within ourselves....to have
awareness and access to our interior angel, and thence to the illumined
truths of the CITY of GOD, the New Jerusalem.
^
\ (Graphic Illustration) / \
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G S \
O P \ h
D R \ i
I heat = love \ g
(Esse) T N \ h
U light = wisdom E \ e
A W illumined \ r
L J truths \
E A \
S R N \
U U G M \
N (Existence) S (The WORD) E A outer \
____________________________A________________L___________N_____world_____
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