So, He chose to die for us, yes? (or I suppose you could say, laid His life down by ALLOWING Himself to be crucified, so that we could be saved). As I'm sure you'd agree, no one could have killed Him without His consent to do so.
Yes, he said,
Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?
But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be? Mt.26:53-54
He proved his superiority over all opposition powers, demonic and human,
Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Lk.24:25
He asked His Father to forgive those who killed Him for not knowing better/not knowing what they should have known about Him and who He was, not for what they did to Him.
They did it to him because they didn't know him.
All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot outthe lip, they shake the head,
saying, He trusted on the LORD
that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him. Psa.22:8-7
Sound familiar? There's a very goid reason for that.
He quoted Psa.22:1 (My God why have you forsaken me?) because those who mocked him, the scribes and Pharisees, the "experts" should have known better.
Orthodox Judaism understood the unjust suffering suffering of their people.
Pharisees understood Psa.22 when the "strong bulls of Bashan" persecuted their people.
Many bulls have compassed me: strong
bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
Scribes knew the dogs ripped their people apart.
Deliver me from.....the dog. Isa.22:20
They didn't know they were the dogs.
And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided
him, saying, He saved others;
let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. Lk.23:35
All Jews understood through. the suffering of their own oeople that Psa.22 is a hallmark of hope.
Jews like David who went through bad times felt forsaken, but never was. And Psa.22 specifically says God will not firsake the righteous and so does the scrioture.
And here's the kicker. Rabbinic Judaism has always taught that when Messiah comes, he will exactt justice on sinners.
So when they said C'mon down, what they meant was. If we're committing sin judge us now. Prove yourself.
I think they were sinning against God himself. What do you think?
Is it not also interesting that the very One who always forgave people's sins Himself, asked His Father to do so in this particular case (rather than simply continuing to do so Himself).
I wonder why
--David
Yes it is interesting and Itwo Rock solid reasons why.
1) Jesus is our High Priest, who doesn't have to visit the throne of God once a year because He's sitting on it and always has been, except when he came down as a Witness first hand to our evil.
2) God has been angry without pronouncing judgment on us. Whenever we see Jesus converseing with his Father it's to show his Oneness, not any difference. Here's an example,
I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it.
If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’ ” Lk.13:7-9 NIV
We ourselves can be angry without acting.
So let JW's know He's not schizophrenic. He's God.