The mind of Christ

[markdohle]

The Mind of Christ

What is revelation? When we reveal ourselves to others, to our families, or to our friends we may do so at different levels. To our enemies, or to those who either won’t, or can’t understand us, we may reveal very little. Any revelation of any depth can only be received by the inborn capacity of the receiver, or by an increase of capability through experience, study, growth, etc.

I believe that Jesus Christ is a special revelation of the Father’s love for all. For “God wills the salvation of all men, and that they come to the truth”. What Jesus brought to the public, I believe, is what God has been about throughout history, working in the depth of men’s hearts to bring us to the deep truth of God’s love for each of us.

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus also said that “whatsoever you do to the least of these, you do to me.” What does this tell us about those we meet every day? Our loved ones, those we just pass by, those who hurt us, those we harm, those we help, as well as those we ignore and leave alone in their suffering, isolation and pain? Jesus identifies with them, with those overlooked and on the fringe.

In the Last Judgment Scene in Matthew, people are judged not by their works, but the fruit that flows from a loving heart. Where does that love come from? This love that helps the outcast, visits prisons and clothes the naked? Is not grace freely given, is not the human heart made to seek the truth, and if so, will not this seeking be answered? As Jesus proclaimed, seek and you shall find, knock and the door shall be opened. Who is knocking, who seeks, who in the end will find?

For the people in the Last Judgment scene, who were invited into the kingdom, did not understand what Jesus was saying. Christians would understand, who the stranger is, the outcast, all those that they helped. Jesus is the infinite God, born into flesh, so who can understand the mind of Christ, or how he works in the world, all through history. There is still much we don’t understand. We get ourselves in trouble when we worship the scriptures and our interpretations, instead of Christ Jesus and keep an open heart to the mystery that we will perhaps learn and love more deeply throughout eternity.

What is the mind of Christ? The sermon on the mount, and on the plain, as well as the 13^th chapter of Corinthians I believe gives us the beginning in understanding the mind of Christ Jesus, his heart, fully human, filled with compassion and love for all.

[docyabut2]

Corinthians

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

[Arpee]

The only teachings given by Jesus Christ himself according to the bible is the sermon of the mount.

Paul said that Jesus said that it is better to give than to receive. It is also said that Jesus said 'what greater love is there than for a man to lay diwn his life for his friends'?

Love thy neighbour as thyself is the whole of the law and prophets and love is sacrifing (which really means giving up something for someone else).

[markdohle]

Corinthians

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

We may have the mind of Christ as Christians, but is it in seed form, needing to be grown, cultivated by grace and our own desire to grow into this reality?

Peace

mark

[markdohle]

The only teachings given by Jesus Christ himself according to the bible is the sermon of the mount.

Paul said that Jesus said that it is better to give than to receive. It is also said that Jesus said 'what greater love is there than for a man to lay diwn his life for his friends'?

Love thy neighbour as thyself is the whole of the law and prophets and love is sacrifing (which really means giving up something for someone else).

Thank you, very good comment.

peace

mark

[Mr Walker]

The only teachings given by Jesus Christ himself according to the bible is the sermon of the mount.

Paul said that Jesus said that it is better to give than to receive. It is also said that Jesus said 'what greater love is there than for a man to lay diwn his life for his friends'?

Love thy neighbour as thyself is the whole of the law and prophets and love is sacrifing (which really means giving up something for someone else).

I am not so sure about that. I once possessed a well read, red letter bible, in which all the words attributed to Christ were printed in red. There were a lot of them throughout the gospels. All the sermons, allegories, wisdoms, teachings and preachings, about how to live your life.

[fullywired]

The teachingas of Jesus were not original and had been preached by earlier people according to an article I read recently

ie: Take Jesus' preaching on love and forgiveness:

Mark 12:31

"You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

Matthew 6:14

"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you."

Matthew 7:12

"So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; for this is the law and the prophets. "

Hillel, the famous Jewish preacher had already taught such a doctrine:

What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow-man: this is the whole law, the rest is commentary. [2]

There are several more examples on the same site

http://www.rejectionofpascalswager.net/ethics.html

fullywired

[markdohle]

The teachingas of Jesus were not original and had been preached by earlier people according to an article I read recently

ie: Take Jesus' preaching on love and forgiveness:

Mark 12:31

"You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

Matthew 6:14

"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you."

Matthew 7:12

"So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; for this is the law and the prophets. "

Hillel, the famous Jewish preacher had already taught such a doctrine:

What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow-man: this is the whole law, the rest is commentary. [2]

There are several more examples on the same site

http://www.rejection...net/ethics.html

fullywired

Yes of course. Not sure I was every taught that Jesus sayings were never uttered before. What caused the very rapid growth of the Christian faith is the early experience of his resurrection. The book of acts deal with many of the early days of the church.

The law of God is written in the hearts of all men, therefore it is no surprise about what you said above.

Peace

Mark

[Mr Walker]

The teachingas of Jesus were not original and had been preached by earlier people according to an article I read recently

ie: Take Jesus' preaching on love and forgiveness:

Mark 12:31

"You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

Matthew 6:14

"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you."

Matthew 7:12

"So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; for this is the law and the prophets. "

Hillel, the famous Jewish preacher had already taught such a doctrine:

What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow-man: this is the whole law, the rest is commentary. [2]

There are several more examples on the same site

http://www.rejection...net/ethics.html

fullywired

Many of christ's teachings are clearly those of two rabbis of the time who were father and son. (I think Hillel was their name) Their teachings are written down in several independent jewish sources from the time. Christ would have been a disciple of those two men as is evidenced by his repetition of many of their teachings. He was in the right time and place, and the bible talks of his studying with wise men. Logically ,I do wonder where some people think Christ the man gained his wisdoms and knowledge from, beginning in childhood.

this liberal jewish school of teaching was strongly opposed by the shammai school which was more fundamentalist and literal. Much of the opposition to christ's teachings came because he was a follower of the Hillel school while the Pharisees were generally of the shammai school. Ironically the theology of modern Judaism evolved from the Hillel school of teaching and christianity evolved from the Hillel school. The shammaites lost out in both cases, despite their persecution of Christ (and other Hiillel followers preachers and teachers.

Edited December 28, 2013 by Mr Walker