On what would have been Friday, the 7th of April, the year 30, if anyone had used back then the system we now use (that is the most likely date; there is another, somewhat less likely date, in the year 33), Jesus the Messiah was crucified. Rejected by the religious leadership of the Jews, sentenced to death by the Romans even though he was found innocent of any crimes, he died during that same afternoon and was buried. Sin leads to death and he died, not because he had sinned himself, but because he had taken on himself the sins of the whole world. Sunday morning, the 9th of April, he rose from the dead. The principle that sin leads to death was and is and forever will remain valid. And yet, the one who had taken on himself the sins of the whole world had conquered death. That means that because he had overcome death, he had overcome the sin he had taken on himself -- all of our sins. Sin can be overcome. The empty tomb is proof that those who want to become holy, those who want to be changed from the mean, selfish, hateful, vicious, small-minded sinners that we all are can do so. The transformation has become possible for all those who want it, because Jesus of Nazareth conquered sin for us, and proved it by conquering death. He is risen indeed! Happy Easter, for those who rejoice in such things.
Every April, my city has a big 10-day long Fiesta celebration. Parades, carnivals, revelry, and street food. Yesterday, while watching footage being fed in from the annual Passion Play reenactment downtown I commented, "You know Fiesta's just around the corner when you see that they're even putting our lord and savior on a stick."
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made. Who, for us men for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end. And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets. And I believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Whatever you say, as long as the cadbury golden caramel eggs keep coming jesus can do whatever the fuck he wants. Your whacked out sky god stories brought about the most awesome thing ever, and if I go out due to diabetic shock over eating these awesome things I lived a good life and it is a hell of a way to go. OMFG someone bought cheesecake and put it in the fridge. If they could somehow ram easter in with thanksgiving, and yes passover also because the jews have some good foods, I would just die of a mouthgasm. So have fun at church and all, and we will make sure there is something left for you when you get back. So don't fill up on cheep crackers and wine.....I mean jesus' blood and body. Who would have thought all this food goodness would come from a story about a zombie composed of cheep crackers and wine rising from the dead to spread colored eggs around a garden with a transpecied rabbit who thinks it is a fucking chicken. You know they had some really good drugs way back then.
Next time you talk with him, tell him the temple needs cleansing again. The bigots and haters are outshouting the righteous.
Christians sharing Christ's love and forgiveness this Easter weekend: http://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/...akery-to-make-a-point-about-religious-freedom
He knows it. He predicted it himself, in Matthew 13:24-30. Meanwhile, that gives those who dislike the Christian message something to focus on, so they can justify their rejection of him.
No proper jew would ever be risen during Passover. This holiday is all about the unrisen. Have some matzo.
I should dispel a few mispercepctions. Jesus didn't rise, He descended, because He had to come down into the city from Golgatha, or skull hill, which implies walking down, not up. Rabbits don't actually lay eggs. I'm not sure how that got started, though it was probably pagan and tied to the Koch brothers. A period Easter dress was probably some kind of robe or toga, and bonnets came much later. For being seriously injured in the fight against Roman rule, Jesus was eligible for full VA medical disability benefits, which explains why he was only around for three more days. Jesus was a Jew who couldn't be killed, and would keep coming back, but the Jewish film industry, stupidly, never adopted him as an archetype like Rambo or John McClane. Strange as it may seem, Jews in the Holy Land or in Hollywood have absolutely no marketing sense. SNL did a Jesus/Terminator parody that brought that point to light, because Jesus could take out any number of terminators in an open fight, but didn't because of orders from up the chain of command - and politics.
Happy Easter to @Asyncritus and everyone else who likes it. I have no quarrel with anyone who celebrates the idea of fresh starts, though Christians' rejection and even hateful mockery of gentle Lady Death seems unkind to me. And since you chose to put this in the Red Room, let me add that while I'm glad your little blue pill is working, there is such a thing as oversharing.
Cadbury eggs are so high-octane they are just too rich for my blood. If they had smaller versions I might eat them. But once you bite into one you are pretty much committed - it's like biting into an apple. But a whole Cadbury egg is just too much. Granted Peeps Chicks (another Easter Bunny treat) are even sweeter! Biting off the head is plenty for me, thank you.
Speaking of Jesus getting beaten and crucified (totally plausible) I do take issue with the "not a bone on his body was broken" line. The nails through the hand/feet I agree would not break bones because the nails would have shattered bones and weakened them - he would have came off the cross. The nails would have been between bones so the body would only fall to the point where the bones meet and the be supported by the nails that way - Jesus weighed most likely around 150 or so and guarantee two or three nails would do it. How do I know? Way back in the day I had a work related accident where (when I weighed around 150) I was speared through the hand (missed bones) and my body was hanging feet completely off the ground and I didn't tear loose! So, no broken bones from hanging, Myth confirmed no doubt. That said, a Roman soldier thrust a spear through his side, and blood and water came out immediately. If blood came gushing out right away he was speared in the vital organs versus the gut. Speared through the gut wouldn't bleed for shit right away. Indeed, they wanted to kill him, thus spearing him in the vitals, which are protected by the rib cage. That means at least one broken rib, maybe two. The spear point may have slid between the ribs exactly perfectly as to not break any ribs, but unless the point was exactly parallel with how the ribs run (and this is not likely) a rib would be broken. Granted, at that angle of Jesus being above the soldier (basically the classic "quartering away" angle bow hunters desire) a soldier could put a spear just under the rib cage and the angle would bring it right into the vitals - which would explain rapid excessive bleeding. However, wasn't he beaten severely prior to the whole crucifixion? A bunch of soldiers whaling and stomping on him with extreme prejudice and not a broken nose, a broken rib, a broken radius or ulna, an orbital or other facial bone, a broken finger or toe, teeth knocked out (okay technically not a bone)? And the pictures and statues of Jesus on the cross - he'd have black eyes, swollen bloody cut open face, bruises virtually everywhere, a big bulge under his loin cloth because he got kicked in the balls several times and they are swollen up like oranges. The whole thing seems fishy to me.
Whereas I’ve never rejected him. He and I get along just fine. Even someone as dim as @Volpone recognizes the connection we share. (This is only the second time he’s started the same thread; I think he’s a little jealous.) I do feel sorry for the kid, though. So much potential, struck down in the flower of youth. Imagine what he could have accomplished if he’d toned down his political message just a smidge until the Pharisees went after someone else. Instead, his message has been retconned for millennia by people who never met him coopting the brand for their own agenda. Poor kid...
I'll probably watch Jesus of Nazareth tonight. It's still my favorite Jesus movie. Granted, we know Jesus wasn't a long haired, blue eyed man with a British accent, but Robert Powell just has this calming, soothing presence that just resonates with me. I have always felt that his portrayal of Jesus was the best; no grandstanding, no sudden words of wisdom as the music plays dramatically, just a humble, peaceful man, who only became righteously angry when he saw the innocent being abused, oppressed, and exploited by the powerful.
I lurk most places. Been crazy busy with other stuff these days. Not enough hours in the day sometimes.
