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Acquisition of Lethal weapons purpose and silence of the church |
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Now let us see what trials and efforts Jesus had made and the way he had prayed God to save him from the ignominious death awaiting him, if he happened to be betrayed.
No sooner did he realise that a conspiracy had been made to betray him, than he ordered his disciples to get ready to meet the enemy with weapons for self-defense.
“AND HE SAID UNTO THEM, WHEN I SENT YOU WITHOUT PURSE, AND SCRIP, AND SHOES, LOCKED YE ANYTHING? AND THEY SAID, NOTHING. THEN SAID HE UNTO THEM, BUT NOW, HE THAT HATH A PURSE, LET HIM TAKE IT, AND LIKEWISE HIS SCRIP: AND HE THAT HATH NO SWORD. LET HIM SELL HIS GARMENT, AND BUY ONE” (Luke 22: 35-36)
The above passage clearly speaks that Jesus had ordered his disciples to buy swords if they did not have them, even by selling their garments. Order to acquire swords even by selling their garments itself stresses the immediate and timely necessity and importance of possessing the swords. What could have been the motive for acquiring swords even by selling their garments just a few hours before the betrayal of Jesus, were they not for defence purposes?
“AND THEY SAID, LORD, BEHOLD, HERE ARE TWO SWORDS. AND HE SAID UNTO THEM, IT IS ENOUGH.” (Luke 22:38)
When he was told that there were two swords available he satisfied himself and assured his disciples that they were enough; because he knew that the scribes and the priests were not courageous enough to face him in a combat.
In this respect, recall to your mind the incident which took place when he entered the temple and found people selling doves etc., the way he drove them out of the temple, whipping them single handed (Ref: John 2:13-16)
But now this case is different. At that time he was all alone. But now he was about to be accompanied by all his disciples. In the former case he had only a whip for his weapon; but now he would have swords. So he estimated the strength of his enemy and satisfied himself that the two swords and the little group of his man-power were enough to overcome the enemy.
ACQUISITION OF LETHAL WEAPONS – PURPOSE AND SILENCE OF THE CHURCH.
The Church is silent to show appropriate cause for the immediate necessity of acquiring the swords by them, even by selling their garments, just before the betrayal of Jesus, if it was for other purposes than for defense as we told.
Did Jesus ever instruct his disciples to carry weapons with them? Or did he ever arm himself with weapons? But now what necessity was there to have weapons acquired even by selling garments just before his betrayal unless they were meant for SELF DEFENSE?
Is it unlawful or an offence to defend oneself by his self efforts when there is a threat of danger to his life from the enemy? NO, certainly not. One is obliged to defend one’s self to the last, when one is attacked, unjustly and illegally by the enemy. Then are we thus trying to give a wrongful colour to the defensive measures taken by Jesus at the time of his betrayal? No. We are only bringing into light the facts which the Church is wantonly garbing in order to justify their false doctrines created about the Atonement – Resurrection – And ascension.
If Jesus had really meant to atone for the sins of men as the Church proclaims, he should not have resorted to defensive measures. Instead, he should have submitted to his betrayal unhesitatingly and voluntarily allowed himself to be crucified and sacrificed his life as ransom for the original sin of man.
The Church does not answer the question why Jesus had resorted to defend himself with weapons, if he were a lamb led to the slaughter house in order to be sacrificed for the remission of human original sin. Does this singular act of Jesus not prove that Church is dreaming of attaining salvation under the atonement doctrine?
APPOINTING DISCIPLES TO GUARD – AND CHECK
Thus after acquiring swords, and accompanied by all his disciples, he made his way to the garden of Gathsemane where he instructed them to follow the plan of defense and attack. (Though the details of this plan were not recorded in the Gospels it is but reasonable to presume that he did explain the plan to them because when he had stressed the need and importance of obtaining the swords even by selling their garments, he would not have kept quiet without instructing them when and how to use them.). And then, after thus making his self-efforts he went to pray God to save him from the ignominious death and persuaded his disciples too to pray for the success of their plan and to keep a vigilant watch.
“TARRY YE HERE AND WATCH WITH ME" (Matthew 26:38).
For Jesus it was the hour of life and death. He explained to his disciples the importance and the ready need for the swords. He prepared them for battle (to attack the enemy for self-defence). He gave instructions to them with the mode of attacking the enemy and of the defence and finally after making all of his self efforts for saving himself, requested the disciples to pray God for the success of the plan and to keep guard watchfully. But what has dampened his expectations was the curious fact that the guardians of the unfortunate Jesus were found unconcernedly sleeping inspite of all the precautions taken and instructions given. Jesus was so curious and disturbed in mind that he could not stay at the place where he was praying God but very often returned to his disciples to check whether they were alter and carefully guarding or not. But every time he went to check, he found them sleeping with swords by their sides like a mother sleeps with its suckling child.
“AND HE COMETH UNTO THE DISCIPLES. AND FINDETH THEM ASLEEP, AND SAITH UNTO PETER, WHAT COULD YE NOT WATCH WITH ME ONE HOUR? WATCH AND PRAY, THAT YE ENTER NOT INTO TEMPTATION: THE SPIRIT INDEED IS WILLING, BUT THE FLESH IS WEAK.” (Matthew: 26:40-41)
In the above verses, it is obvious that there are three kinds of speeches which Jesus had delivered, the exposition of which bear witness to the able leadership of Jesus as no less than that of any highly trained military commander-in-chief. And the speeches also prove that he had tried to encourage his disciples to defend in all possible ways even by strategy.
At first he said in a very polite manner” WHAT, COULD YE NOT WATCH WITH ME ONE HOUR?”
And secondly he expressed his doubt that the disciples might also be betrayed and put to death along with himself, by means of which his mission was threatened to be put an end to, and therefore warned his disciples in rather a chiding manner.
“WATCH AND PRAY THAT YE ENTER NOT INTO TEMPTATION"
That is to mean “if you fail to defend, you may also be arrested and punished along with me. Thus you may enter into temptation. Therefore “WATCH AND PRAY”.
The same view and fear is also expressed in John 18:8. When Jesus was surrounded by the enemy, he immediately told the enemy that they might arrest him and let the disciples go.
“LET THESE GO THEIR WAY" . (John 18:8)
And Thirdly he immediately changed the manner of his talk and tactfully patted them in praise and said-
“THE SPIRIT INDEED IS WILLING BUT THE FLESH IS WEAK”.
That is to mean, “No doubt, I know that you are conscientiously and spiritually willing to obey me, but you are physically weak and hence are ot able to follow my command”.
Thus Jesus tried to make his disciples prepared for the battle about to take place. Some times he spoke in a very entreating manner as “COULD YE NOT WATCH WITH ME ONE HOUR?” and some other times chided and warned them the likelihood of their falling into temptation if and when betrayed along with him saying “WATCH AND PRAY THAT YE MAY NOT ENTER INTO TEMPTATION”, and at the other times probably out of fear that the disciples might desert him in the nick of the moment if he continued his angry mood and chiding manner any longer, he began to patt them in a conciliatory way and said that they were heedless to his warnings just because of their bodily weakness, but that they were really very loyal and faithful to him spiritually saying – “THE SPIRIT INDEED IS WILLING BUT THE FLESH IS WEAK”.
The Church tries in vain to attribute these words “THE SPIRIT INDEED IS WILLING BUT THE FLESH IS WEAK” to Jesus himself as to have been told with reference to his own case, to mean that he was spiritually willing to atone, but that his body was not willing to undergo the physical torture.
The aim of the Church in interpreting the above verse in this untenable way is to justify Jesus, prayers which show the complete and total reluctance on the part of Jesus to go through the Crucifixion and to prove that the cause of his prayers was no more than the result of nature human weakness, and that he was quite willing for atonement spiritually. But this is not quite relevant to the context. To know how it is untenable we should study the following general expressions in their correct perspective.
(1) SPIRIT (Conscience)
(2) BODY
(3) WILLINGNESS (or) UN-WILLINGNESS
(4) ABILITY (or performance) or INABILITY (helplessness)
(1) SPIRIT – Invokes intention (to do or not to do)
(2) BODY – is the servant and obeys and represents the SPRIT. (Not necessarily positive, but may some times varies the result of the intention).
(3) WILLINGNESS (or) UN-WILLINGNESS – indicates the intention – and depends on the SPIRIT.
(4) ABILITY (or) INABILITY – is not the direct result of the intention. It depends mostly on destiny, and sometimes on the ability of its performer and the favourable or unfavourable environments.
Spirit (Conscience) invokes the intention of willingness or un-willingness to do or not to do certain deeds and body acts accordingly. But -.
Body has no special function of invoking thought for willingness or un-willingness independent of the spirit to act, just as the spirit has no special feature of performance independently, but its capability is within the realm of giving birth to the intention, whereby the body responds.
Intention invoked by the spirit indicates the willingness or un-willingness of the spirit (in human being) irrespective of the expected result (objective) either positive or negative. Result is not to the criterion to know the intention. And therefore, intention is the main thing which shows what man wants to do irrespective of the results.
In brief, the spirit (conscience) invokes intention (thought) and body responds. This applies in the case of ordinary and simple affairs only. Sometimes things go out of our control and reach in which case, though spirit invokes thought of doing any particular act, body cannot (or may not) respond to it and may fail to carry out the act (objective).
Now examine carefully the following two examples which help the readers to understand the above points.
For instance there was a college student who was appearing for an examination the next day, got a firm thought (intention invoked by his spirit) to study through out the night. His intention here was to study and not to sleep. But his physical exhaustion prevented him from his study any longer and involuntarily put him to sleep all night without responding to the intention invoked by his spirit. In this case it can be definitely said that “THE SPIRIT INDEED IS WILLING BUT THE FLESH IS WEAK”, because he had intended to fulfill the will of the spirit, but his body was not in a condition to respond to it in the positive.
There was another student who instead of having such a thought, prayed God to make him sleep and swallowed a sleeping tablet and slept the whole night through. Then is it reasonable to say that “THE SPIRIT INDEED IS WILLING BUT THE FLESH IS WEAK” in his case? No, Because he had no intention of studying throughout the night but on the other hand he had tried to sleep and slept.
In both the cases the result (of sleeping) is one and the same act but the intentions varied.
On observing the respective attitudes of the two students under reference above, one can easily understand the particular case to which the verse “THE SPIRIT INDEED IS WILLING BUT THE FLESH IS WEAK” reasonably applies.
Now consider the original point under discussion. The disciples of Jesus were loyal to their master. As had been instructed, they took the swords, left every thing behind and followed Jesus to the garden of Gathsemane to stand by their master, shoulder to shoulder, to fight the enemy and to protect their master. Thus they were ready to achieve the objective but their bodily exhaustion did not permit them to be alert. It is a different thing which does not matter (spiritually only), nor does it conflict with the will to obey Jesus.
But in the case of Jesus, his preparations for his defence and prayers to God for help were in direct conflict with the object of willingness to be crucified if it were true.
Now compare the attitudes of the disciples and Jesus with those of the two students mentioned above as examples. Like the former student, the disciples of Jesus were willing to fulfil the objective, but could not remain alert due to their bodily exhaustion. But Jesus like the later student got the swords ready for defence and prayed God to save him from the ignominious death awaiting him which is in direct conflict with the objective of getting slaughtered (if it were true).
Now it is easy for the readers to determine to whom the verse “THE SPIRIT INDEED IS WILLING BUT THE FLESH IS WEAK” is reasonably applicable to. Thus I beg to conclude that the interpretation made by the Church is quite untenable.
Even after what has been discussed so far if any one wishes to say that the words “THE SPIRIT INDEED IS WILLING BUT THE FLESH IS WEAK” spoken as relating to Jesus himself alone he should know in spite of it that he is disproving the theory of Atonement of Jesus. The same point has been discussed on the following page 33.
Thus Jesus encouraging his disciples as he did, went once again to kneel before God in prayer to save him.
DO ALL THESE ACTS OF JESUS EXPLAIN CONCLUSIVELY TO ANY READER OF THE GOSPELS THAT JESUS CAME TO THE WORLD MERELY TO BE SLAUGHTERED AND TO SUFFER IN HELL AS RANSOM FOR THE SINS OF THE PEOPLE?
