Answers to a friend. Hebrews 5:7

Who in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear,
(Heb 5:7 RV)

"Who in the days of his flesh," - God became a man, and yet remained the Father that Jesus the man was able to call out to. How that happened is beyond me. I try to comprehend it and struggle, therefore I merely accept the concept as fact. Jesus was so remarkable, miraculous, and filled with the father's love that he must have been who he said he was. There are so many proofs that he is God and yet the compassionate Jesus who walked with man upon earth.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
(John 1:1 RV)
 "In the days of his flesh"  - I can readily ascent to the fact that He walked this earth as a man; the God man.

"having offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him" -
Is it the prayers or the fact that he did it with tears that causes the problem? Perhaps the fact that the verse has him offering prayers unto him, him being God.
Now wait! I thought he was God. Right you would be.
Entities, aspects, and perhaps personalities, capable of separating themselves from the other in form, diverse in mannerisms, and yet totally in cooperation with the other, nor struggling to dominate the other.

Tears merely demonstrate the humanness of our God King, and Messiah.

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
(Heb 4:15 KJV)

He, Jesus the man, was tempted in every manner that is common to man, and he became our high priest. Therefore he knows what we go through, and what it feels like. He still maintains that role in the heavenlies, and as the author of the book "The Shack" tries to point out, he still voluntarily maintains that form and position in the heavens with the Father.

"unto him that was able to save him from death,"
God could have spared him the agony of torture and then death.

Being ridiculed, beaten, and then hung upon the cross was only part of it. Sin separated us from God, something the King of Glory had never experienced, and everything we know from scripture is part of God's plan to redeem us back to himself.

The OT is filled with the hows and whys of the sacrifice that had to be made, just so man could have momentary relief from the sin that is so deeply ingrained within, and even at that man still had no direct communication with the Father, but had to allow the high priest speak to God on man's behalf.

We are told he did it - did what?, allowed himself to be sin knowing that it would separate him from the Father. And why? for the joy set before him.

No one, in their right mind, finds joy in their own brutality and torture, therefore what was set before him was something more than just the agony of death.

Hanging there on the cross he cried out "My God, why have you forsaken me?" Since Jesus became sin, our sin, God could no longer look upon him either -just as he could not look upon sinful man, and for the first time in eternity Jesus experienced separation from God. 
Not to worry, that all got straightened out, but think about it. Jesus had never experienced life without the Father. Adam got a good dose in the garden after having dominion over it for how long.

I will tell you that there are those who will not buy this concept. They feel strongly that it is blasphemous to even consider such a thing. How could God separate himself from himself, or allow a beloved son to experience such pain and trauma. I do not know how to answer that, but I sure am glad that Jesus voluntarily subjected himself to it.

This obedience produced a warrior king, a high priest, and a God man that could completely understand who were since the fall.

"and was heard...."
What might be troubling about this aspect? Jesus had asked the Father if there was another way. That sure sounds like a man that really wanted another way if it was possible. What we did not see was God answering him back. We can make that assumption based upon the fact that Jesus carried out the mission. But that is not what this says. It says that he was heard. Then that only leaves one conclusion: LOVE won.
What does that mean? Jesus volunteered, and God so loved a broken world that he gave his only son to it as a gift. Beside all that Jesus opened one of his prayers with "Father, I know that you hear me always" To be heard in this manner implies that the Father responded positively to every request that Jesus made. Jesus did not demand a yes answer to his question, but merely made the statement that he already knew the answer to.

Just because we do not see things going the way we want, while in anguish, does not mean that God does not hear. Perhaps God has given you the answer and you are just fighting it.

"... in that he feared;"
He was heard because he feared.
Fear is a negative word with negative connotations, but, especially in the case of Jesus, would it not be more practical to think in terms of respect. That phrase "fear God" is scratched all over the pages of the bible. Certainly there were more than enough circumstances to evoke fear, but really the entire time God was looking for respect. He made his point on many occasions by pointing out the futility of playing with inanimate objects, painting little hands, feet and mouths on them when then cannot speak, and have done nothing for you.
Scripture really does demonstrate God mocking these things for when the Philistines captured the Ark of the covenant they placed it in one of their temples, near their god Dagon. In the morning their god was on it's face before god. Not totally convinced that was significant they tried it again. They found their god not only face first on the floor before the Ark, but its head and hands were broken off as well. They caught on.

There is a context to the fear aspect here, and might be missed if one did not continue to read. The next verse says: "Though he were a Son, yet he learned obedience by the things which he suffered;"
I seriously doubt that Jesus struggled with obedience, that was man's problem, had always been, but then again - tempted in all ways as we are he would have had ample opportunity to try and rise up against the Father. This is what made Satan's offer of the kingdoms of the earth such a realistic offer. The moment Jesus would have said yes would have taken him into the realm of  asserting himself above God, the supremely correct decision maker. That is exactly what Satan did, and you can see where it got him. Jesus defeated him hands down on the cross that day, and Satan's only home will be in eternal punishment when this is all over.

The second greatest gift that Jesus gave us was his willingness to be and do nothing outside of the Father's instructions.

You might think that is way too restrictive. Ask yourself, as you read about Jesus' life on this earth, was there anything about him that seemed restricted. Good lord no! He healed the sick, healed the lame, cast out demons, set people free, sought out the broken and restored them, and gave people life and hope. And best of all he had fun doing it. How can I say that he had fun, for God fills us with a joy that surpasses all understand when we doing his will.

Answers to a friends questions: part 2

In reality one could ask the question of John 1:1 and get an entire book on the subject. My friend threw out many scriptures with no definition of what the question was, merely the idea that they did not grasp them. If you look at the passages, in this case John 1: 1-5, I suppose that all you really have to do is to ask what are the common things people struggle with (myself included) when they read these.

As a side note: I have been spending a tremendous amount of time lately, looking at eschatology and what is going on in the world right now. Folks, if you are not aware Islam is your next door neighbor, and fits every description of things to come. Jesus answered his disciples, see Matthew 24, with this: Do not be deceived, and do not be afraid. He also told them a parable about a fig tree, and the evidence that it is about to bear fruit. We are seeing signs that things are about to bear fruit. Read 1 Thessalonians 5:1-9. It speaks about the thief in night, springing upon the unattended (we assume) house. Here is the insight for the day. " But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. "
So how does this relate to the passage below and the questions? Islam believes none of this, but they believe in a form of Jesus that may be so convincing to many, that they will be deceived into converting to Islam. The point here is, you need to understand who you are, and who you belong to. Thessalonians also tells us that the his appearing in the clouds to gather us to him, will not come until the antichrist is revealed. If you understand Islamic theology at all then you will know that many of us will have stand fast upon our faith, and probably die, as an Islamic fighter from Yemen will arise six months before the Mahdi (antichrist) steps forward. This fighters purpose is an attempt to destroy those who would stand in the way of Islam. Now how can one man do that much damage? He can't, but he will put forth a cry of jihad that will begin to cover the globe. Unless you have had your head buried in the ground then you should know that the threat is real in this so called safe nation of ours.
Why would I tell you this? Not to invoke hatred toward a people or nation, but to pray. Jesus told his own disciples that if you live by the sword, you will die by the sword. I take that to mean fighting back with man made tools is foolish.The most powerful weapon at our disposal is prayer. Ask God to make himself real to these people, and change as many hearts as possible. Ask for God's protection over his people, "the people of the book" as we are known.
Be the people of the book.
Be life.
Be light.

Back to the passage and my response.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
(John 1:1-5 KJV)

From the first he was the Word, and the Word was in relation with God and was God.
(John 1:1 BBE)

IN THE beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. [Isa. 9:6.]
(John 1:1 AMP)


Beginning: The natural meaning of the word is with reference to time. The primitive Greek root means “to be long,” “to draw out.” Thus, it is used to refer to some point of time long drawn out, or long past (Gen_1:1). It is used also to express the inauguration of a particular event (Exo_12:2).

Word: The commonest term in the Old Testament for “word” is דבר, dābhār (also “matter” “thing”); in the New Testament λόγος, lógos (“reason,” “discourse,” “speech”); but also frequently ῥῆμα, rhḗma. Rhēma is a “word” in itself considered; logos is a spoken word, with reference generally to that which is in the speaker's mind.

One of the most dramatic passages in the bible is this one. John makes it extremely clear that Jesus was God, and they are inseparable. God, his Word, his Son, and all creation was made by him. Since we have to use faith to believe, then let's just stretch our imaginations just a little and you can see Jesus, in whatever form he was in at the time, speaking the worlds into existence just as if God himself did it. If you have not read the book "The Shack" there is a description given by God, in the form and style of Mama, a wise, old, black woman. In that description God explains how they work together in thought and unity. Not competing with each other. Maybe what makes God difficult to understand is that we can do nothing but compete with other.

One of the things we are told about God is that He always was. That has to imply that any aspect of Him was there also. The word already existed.

I also do not think that any honest person can say they totally grasp this concept. We seem to understand the concept of a man being as good as his word, but God was the word, exhibited the word, created with the word, and  walked this earth as the God man, Jesus his Son.

John 1:2 He was in the beginning with God.
He, in this case is Jesus.

Everything has a beginning, no matter how hard that is to understand, except God, the Word and the Holy Spirit. Again that is a hard concept to grasp, but one we have to grapple with. If only we had not spent so much time watching Star Trek, as they tried to grasp the same concepts in human terms. That may be the problem because we attempt to understand God in terms of the humanness that we are so deeply entrenched in.

in the beginning: would have to in this case our beginnings, earth, which by the way scripture says that it was made perfect. Therefore if something became wrong, and that might be an explanation of dinosaurs, then it happened shortly after the beginning.

with God: the word used here is pros, and it can also mean - to the advantage of; at; near; by; towards; with regard to.

John 1:3 GW  Everything came into existence through him. Not one thing that exists was made without him.

It appropriately expresses everything which exists. That's a fairly broad statement. I suppose that could mean in its original form, but that is not what the verse says. Then that would mean the good with the bad. And the answer is yes. What right does the pot have to tell the potter how it should be made and how it is to be used. If this challenges you consider that scripture tells us that Pharoah was merely a tool for God's use in bringing His people out of Egypt. Just the fact that you claim to have a relationship with God and are asking these questions tells me that God has a plan for your life. As for those around you that may not seem like they know him. Prayer changes things. How do you know that God was not merely waiting on you so that he could act upon your prayer.

In him there was life, and that life was a light for the people of the world.
(John 1:4 ERV)
Who is the him in this case? The context has been about God's Son, Jesus; the Word.

Life was in him. Ponder that for a moment.

We all breathe up to a point, and that breath is necessary for our life, but this is not what he is talking about. This is a life that is eternal, a light that never goes out. Even as I write this I can hear something inside me scream out "and it desires restoration with the Father that created that life."

The world tends to run from him, the one who carries and gives that life.

In our attempts to understand and fill the voids we feel, we have developed things called "night life" as though there were life in them, when all the while nothing man creates restores the life inside, but brings about death, on so many levels.

LIFE - Yes, I know. I just yelled it.

The Greek word for life is Zoe.
From Vine's expository of NT words: "life as God has it, that which the Father has in Himself, and which He gave to the Incarnate Son to have in Himself, Joh_5:26, and which the Son manifested in the world, 1Jo_1:2."

Genesis 1 tells us that man was created in God's image. Jesus said that God is a spirit, and so you have probably picked up on the fact that spirit is central, but not exclusive to the world God can operate in. So man then was made an exacting replica of God, a spirit. At some point though, God put a body on him.
The life, the same life that has existed in Christ from the beginning of all incomprehensible time, is what God put in the man. Wow, and to think that man threw that away.
We should know by now that man died that day in the garden. If you read the story did you see him die in your minds eye? No, for physical death quite often is a slow process. In Adam's case 900 years, but the life, the same life that God possessed, that exuded from Jesus pores, that God put in the man, died.

Can you imagine what that suddenly felt like. Every ounce of darkness, depravity, loneliness, terror, and want for companionship came rushing in. No wonder God destroyed the earth with a flood. Scripture tells us that violence filled the earth, and the thought and intents of man's heart was only evil.

Can you begin to understand why Jesus cried out to the Father, asking Him if there was any other way. Oh, he knew this torture was going to hurt, but to have the life put out was unbearable.

Deny it if you wish. The horror of the cross is so unbearable that I can see why you would not even put Jesus on that cross. But you have to understand that Jesus voluntarily became a man, chose to suffer, die, to bear all sin and shame upon his body, and left nothing out.
WHY?
For one person alone, YOU. He came to restore that life in you through your acceptance of his sacrifice, and that is exactly what He became. Why do you think that scripture is filled with descriptions of his sacrifice and blood. Because it is life to those of us who cling to it.

Not to worry though, He came off that cross, defeated death, hell and the grave, and rose victorious. Understand that "it is appointed for man once to die" and he did. Nothing can touch him. Nothing could have touched him then, had he not allowed it. But he did, for you, and He brings those that choose to follow Him into himself, making them his own, and placing them before the throne of their new Father, the King.

Jesus, this day I receive your life into mine. Receive me into your kingdom for the life and light that I see in you is the light and life that I must have in me. Take me as I am for I have nothing else to offer. Broken and humbled before you I bow, submitting myself to you.

Arise my child, for this day you shall be with me in paradise. What glory, and there is no price that you could pay worthy of such a one. Therefore he paid the price for you and invites you to come.