The more I am investigating this the more I realize that it is hard to argue that the Bible does not teach the orthodox view of the Trinity, although the word does not actually occur in the New Testament.
I heard a sermon today that gave me new insight into a very common passage.
The point is that it supports the Trinity in a way that is subtle, or at least that it supports a higher view of Jesus than that of just a prophet. Here is the familiar parable of the 10 Minas from Luke 19:
11 As they were listening to this, He went on to tell a parable because He was near Jerusalem, and they thought the kingdom of God was going to appear right away.
12 Therefore He said: “A nobleman traveled to a far country to receive for himself authority to be king and then return.
13 He called 10 of his slaves, gave them 10 minas, and told them, ‘Engage in business until I come back.’
14 “But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We don’t want this man to rule over us!’
15 “At his return, having received the authority to be king, he summoned those slaves he had given the money to, so he could find out how much they had made in business.
16 The first came forward and said, ‘Master, your mina has earned 10 more minas.’
17 “‘Well done, good slave!’ he told him. ‘Because you have been faithful in a very small matter, have authority over 10 towns.’
18 “The second came and said, ‘Master, your mina has made five minas.’
19 “So he said to him, ‘You will be over five towns.’
20 “And another came and said, ‘Master, here is your mina. I have kept it hidden away in a cloth
21 because I was afraid of you, for you’re a tough man: you collect what you didn’t deposit and reap what you didn’t sow.’
22 “He told him, ‘I will judge you by what you have said, you evil slave! If you knew I was a tough man, collecting what I didn’t deposit and reaping what I didn’t sow,
23 why didn’t you put my money in the bank? And when I returned, I would have collected it with interest!’
24 So he said to those standing there, ‘Take the mina away from him and give it to the one who has 10 minas.’
25 “But they said to him, ‘Master, he has 10 minas.’
26 “‘I tell you, that to everyone who has, more will be given; and from the one who does not have, even what he does have will be taken away.
27 But bring here these enemies of mine, who did not want me to rule over them, and slaughter them in my presence.’”
It turns out that this is the only parable of Jesus that is based on historical events:
When Herod Archelaus went to Rome to be made King as his father’s successor, a delegation of 50 Jews followed him from Israel where they petitioned Caesar to give them a Roman governor instead of Archelaus. According to Josephus over 8,000 Jews who lived in Rome gathered in the palace to support them as they presented their case against Archelaus.
My point is that Jesus compares how he would be rejected to how Herod the King was rejected, and yet this Herod was nevertheless made king by Caesar.
Note that the very next verse after this parable is the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.
Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration
Why were Moses and Elijah with Jesus on the mount of Transfiguration? Here is one explanation. In Exodus 33:18 Moses wants to see God, but can only see him partially. In 1 Kings 19:13, Elijah also does not see God fully. Is it possible that they both see God revealed on the Mount of Transfiguration?
Jesus and the Fig Tree
Muslims often say that Jesus' not knowing that it was not the season for figs (Mark 11:12-14) is evidence that he is not divine. Actually, everyone knew these sorts of things at the time, just like people nowadays know there is snow in winter. The dried up tree was a visible illustration for all to see how Israel had not produced fruit, and would soon be cursed. This is just what John the Baptist had prophesied:
Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
--Matt 3:10
No comments:
Post a Comment