Tuesday, July 19, 2016

"two of his disciples sent them to Jesus" - Not Absurd but Different Interpretation Needed


A Town around Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station


Not Absurd but Different Interpretation Needed


There is a Chinese expression: A Buddhism deity made of soil is about to cross a river while preaching to save people.

Even if the deity wants to save people, its body is going to dissolve into particles of soil in the river.  Then, how can it save people while it cannot save itself?

A similar interpretation is possible about the Gospels.  Jesus Christ was crucified while He was trying to save people.  Then, how can He save people while He could not save Himself.

The truth is that there are different levels of elements in any incidents.  One element is the most important and others are not so important according to a certain value system.  And compared with the most important element, others lose their significance.

For the Buddhism deity, the most important thing is to save people.  For it, to save itself is a secondary or less important matter.  So, if its body dissolves into nothing but it can save people by its preaching, its objective is achieved.   Outwardly absurd it must look, but compared with the significance to save people, the outward absurdity of the deity's body made of soil being dissolving is nothing.

This Chinese expression is intended to mock at teachings of Buddhism by comparing a Buddhism deity to an unwise man who is trying to help others while he cannot save himself.  It outwardly looks like wise advice meaning that one must first take care of himself and his business before he dares to help others.  But its effect of ridiculing Buddhism is more grave.  If you really respect Buddhism, you never take up this expression.

The same applies to interpretations of the Crucifixion in the Bible.  Outwardly, Christ Jesus could not even save Himself, while He was trying to save people.  But, the meaning of His saving is not so limited to saving people from crucifixion.  The meaning of His saving is to save people from the hands of Satan.  It is a spiritual matter.

So, Christ Jesus said not to be afraid of your enemies who could only at most kill you.  But He said to be afraid of God who can throw you into the hell after your death.  




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Luk 7:19 And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?