Still Without Understanding

  Below is a brief listing of Jesus' "I am" statements. These statements show the brilliant insight and the ability for a teller of most complicated parables to be excessively brief.  John 6:35 "I am the bread of life." John 8:12 "I am the light of the world." John 10:7-9 "I am the door [or gate]." John 10:11,14 "I am the good shepherd." John 11:25 "I am the resurrection and the life." John 14:6 "I am the way, truth and the Life." John 15:1 "I am the true vine." Also, Jesus refers to himself as "The Son of Man" throughout the gospels. If fact, he uses the designation as "Son of Man" dozens of times. He almost never directly says he is the only son of God.  In fact, he argues with those called "Jews" by John 10:34-39 when Jesus states from Psalm 82:6 "I say, "You are gods, children of the most high, all of you." Study the "I am" statements and Jesus...

  For a Teacher who taught with brilliant parables and complicated hyperbole, Jesus often spoke as directly as possible: John 13:34-35 "Love one another." Matthew 22:29 "You are wrong...in the resurrection they...are like angels in heaven." Mark 12: 24-27 "...you are wrong...He is not God of the dead, but the living...you are quite wrong." Luke 23: 42 "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise." John 4:24 "God is spirit." John 6:63 "It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless." And all the "I am" statements mentioned in a separate post: John 6:35 "I am the bread of life." John 8:12 "I am the light of the world." John 10:7-9 "I am the door [or gate]." John 10:11,14 "I am the good shepherd." John 11:25 "I am the resurrection and the life." John 14:6 "I am the way, truth and the Life." John 15:1  "I am the true vine." If we fi...

  In Mark 7:18 and Matthew 15:16 Jesus tries to explain the word coming out of the mouth and questions out loud if his disciples "fail to understand".  Some translations yield "Are you so dull". Also in Mark 2:2 "...he was speaking the word to them." Each of the gospels stress the importance of the word  (as discussed in another post), especially John. In John, the teaching can not be any clearer: "In the beginning was the Word...". After all these centuries are we still without understanding (Mark 7:18)? I would say yes. All this time has given us a better understanding; but not a full understanding. All my years in church helped prepare me to understand, yet I cannot accept much of the teaching of the church.  Sometimes I don't think we even hear the word when it is simply put directly to us. Jesus said: "Love one another." Nothing needs to be added, but must be because we are not understanding. Have you ever listened closely t...

Why am I writing this   Everything is, of course, "my opinion" "The Church" is a great place to start; but the church stopped growing and searching. By "The Church", I mean the entire Christian family. All denominations. I took time to use what I have learned from the church over the last 75 years and combined with reading of Christians going beyond 'The Church' teaching. I urge you to read the authors I have offered in the "Recommended Reading" post. The Church is stuck in traditionalism.  All denominations. I also looked at some of the basic teachings of the church. I could no longer, in good faith, say 'the creed'. I do not believe much of what is considered by the church as mandatory. However, I have never felt closer to "The Son of Man" who we call Jesus. I enjoy reading the gospels over and over and referring when needed to the (very) Old Testament. The New Testament is extremely different from the OT. The OT was o...