John 20 Yeshua encourages the-good to humankind (my transition underway)

Note: In early 2024 I learned his mom and dad in Nazareth named and called him "Yeshua", and "Jesus" is a consequence of translations from Aramaic/Hebrew to Greek, to Latin, to old English, then to Protestant English. "Christ" supports Paul, and some people believe Paul without civic objection. This discovery is wonderful and to be shared.

It took me awhile to confirm that I choose "Yeshua", first influenced by reading CJB along with NIT, as in this reading.

John 20 Yeshua encourages the-good to humankind

updated 4/2/24

CJB emphasis in blue and green, Nomads* comments in yellow, and my comments in gray.   *Participative Sunday-school-class at UBC led by Kenneth Tipton

[Introduction: Biblical literature offers hints to the-ineluctable-truth about human opportunity. Here are 3 suggestions: Jesus is the-God (John 1:1), Jesus’ wills/intentions (Genesis 1:26-28 – NIV and CJB featuring “rule . . . the earth” leaving the choice to the individual), and Yeshua’s message, "Be [as] perfect" as the-God (Mathew 5:48). Ineluctable means: not to be avoided, changed, escaped, neglected, obfuscated, rationalized, or resisted.

The speaking Yeshua advocated the-good rather than claimed to be “anointed one& king”. Human-beings can& may accept the-good, continually pursue the-good, and continuously practice the-good. If asked how humankind discovered self-interest in the-good, we can& may express appreciation to Yeshua. Also, see my Genesis-1:26-28 essay about human duty, at the end of this study.

Consider the scholarly Bible evidence, “From Jesus to Christ”, Parts 1& 2, FRONTLINE,1998 at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JN8FM1NCOSk and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXqFvfCaFwY. Humankind can& may effect the public resurrection of Yeshua’s civic influence.

Under our generation’s mystery-watch to “ourselves and our Posterity”, Yeshua can surpass Christ -- Judeo-Christian messiah& king.] 

Note: this is Nomad’s third reading of John 20 in my tenure. Below, I use magenta highlight to distinguish old comments in yellow. I have changed to a preference for CJB rather than NIV, so now interject CJB, leaving my past work below.

 

John 20, CJB

20 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Miryam from Magdala went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. ² So she came running to Shim‘on Kefa and the other talmid, the one Yeshua loved, and said to them, “They’ve taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they’ve put him!”

³ Then Kefa and the other talmid started for the tomb. ⁴ They both ran, but the other talmid outran Kefa and reached the tomb first. ⁵ Stooping down, he saw the linen burial-sheets lying there but did not go in. ⁶ Then, following him, Shim‘on Kefa arrived, entered the tomb and saw the burial-sheets lying there, ⁷ also the cloth that had been around his head, lying not with the sheets but in a separate place and still folded up. ⁸ Then the other talmid, who had arrived at the tomb first, also went in; he saw, and he trusted. ⁹ (They had not yet come to understand that the Tanakh teaches that the Messiah has to rise from the dead.)

¹⁰ So the talmidim returned home, ¹¹ but Miryam stood outside crying. As she cried, she bent down, peered into the tomb, ¹² and saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Yeshua had been, one at the head and one at the feet. ¹³ “Why are you crying?” they asked her. “They took my Lord,” she said to them, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”

¹⁴ As she said this, she turned around and saw Yeshua standing there, but she didn’t know it was he. ¹⁵ Yeshua said to her, “Lady, why are you crying? Whom are you looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you’re the one who carried him away, just tell me where you put him; and I’ll go and get him myself.” ¹⁶ Yeshua said to her, “Miryam!” Turning, she cried out to him in Hebrew, “Rabbani!” (that is, “Teacher!”) ¹⁷ “Stop holding onto me,” Yeshua said to her, “because I haven’t yet gone back to the Father. But go to my brothers, and tell them that I am going back to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” ¹⁸ Miryam of Magdala went to the talmidim with the news that she had seen the Lord and that he had told her this.

¹⁹ In the evening that same day, the first day of the week, when the talmidim were gathered together behind locked doors out of fear of the Judeans, Yeshua came, stood in the middle and said, “Shalom aleikhem!” ²⁰ Having greeted them, he showed them his hands and his side. The talmidim were overjoyed to see the Lord. ²¹ “Shalom aleikhem!” Yeshua repeated. “Just as the Father sent me, I myself am also sending you.” ²² Having said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Ruach HaKodesh! ²³ If you forgive someone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you hold them, they are held.” [Consider Yeshua’s process for civic forgiveness, given in Matthew 18:15-20. Like all Yeshua’s metaphors, the deep analysis convinces some people that it is a process for civic reform, wherein the accuser might find himself the one necessarily reforming and making restitution. Taking another metaphor, “And anyone who does not take up his execution-stake and follow me is not worthy of me” Matthew 10:38, may mean: accept responsibility to live by Yeshua’s process of mutual forgiveness.]

²⁴ Now T’oma (the name means “twin”), one of the Twelve, was not with them when Yeshua came. ²⁵ When the other talmidim told him, “We have seen the Lord,” he replied, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands, put my finger into the place where the nails were and put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe it.”

²⁶ A week later his talmidim were once more in the room, and this time T’oma was with them. Although the doors were locked, Yeshua came, stood among them and said, “Shalom aleikhem!” ²⁷ Then he said to T’oma, “Put your finger here, look at my hands, take your hand and put it into my side. Don’t be lacking in trust, but have trust!” ²⁸ T’oma answered him, “My Lord and my God!” ²⁹ Yeshua said to him, “Have you trusted because you have seen me? How blessed are those who do not see, but trust anyway!” [In the image of the God, Yeshua humbled himself to allow T’oma’s evaluation.]

³⁰ In the presence of the talmidim Yeshua performed many other miracles which have not been recorded in this book. ³¹ But these which have been recorded are here so that you may trust that Yeshua is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by this trust you may have life because of who he is. [Here, John has the incentive to show that Yeshua is as powerful as Eliyahu (Elijah) and Elisha, who both raised the dead. Maybe so, but I don’t think so.]

[Nomads produced the thought (rather than conclusion) that Yeshua’s influence comes to each person on their own basis. Thus, belief in Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, Jesus the son of man and Son of God, Yeshua fulfilling the Torah, Yeshua to return to unite the tribes of Israel, perhaps another, all are equal. That’s OK with me, and I am glad I prefer Yeshua’s civic influence.]

 

NIV

^20:1 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. ² So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved [Jesus may have found John troubling and given him extra attention, which John mistook for affection], and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

³ So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. ⁴ Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. ⁵ He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. ⁶ Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, ⁷ as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. ⁸ Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. ⁹ (They still did not understand from Scripture [need citation] that Jesus had to rise from the dead [For what purpose? To support the contention that he was the Messiah? The human-being is too aware to fall for such a ruse, hard as it may be for each person to accept such individual power.] [Pretending Phil Beaver is not sincere when he claims he does not know the-ineluctable-truth is an attempt to discount Phil’s opinion. Perhaps arguing that Jesus is Christ diminishes Jesus’ messages: for example, be perfect, as willed in Genesis 1:26-28.].) ¹⁰ Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.

¹¹ Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb ¹² and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. [it is uninteresting that angels in white don’t visit any more]

¹³ They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord [For the first time, I accept a Genesis-1:26-28-problem with having “my Lord” rather than “my teacher”. Lord controls: teacher empowers.] away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” ¹⁴ At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

¹⁵ He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” [I don’t think Jesus would be that cunning toward a person.]

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

¹⁶ Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”). [Did she pretend to be a student of her teacher rather than a slave of her Lord?]

¹⁷ Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” [I think Jesus pursued, facilitated& encouraged the-good. If, so, John 1:1’s “the word was God” seems practical rather than mysterious. At the beginning of time, the-good of humankind existed. The meaning of humankind is to pursue the-good.]

¹⁸ Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

¹⁹ On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders [really?], Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” [I cannot say what Jesus meant by this: civic tranquility? His disciples’ confidence? Their acceptance in the world? Their salvation from Hell? No incentive to improve civic life? Achieving the-good? Given the responsibility to provide peace, Phil Beaver would not know what to provide. It certainly would not be incentive-less, effortless living. I can aid safety& security and consider Jesus’ peace a Jesus-mystery.] ²⁰ After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

²¹ Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” [I don’t know the “peace” invocation. However, I like the reliability Jesus expresses here. It reflects John 6:38, which sustains my life’s interest in learning the practical Jesus.] ²² And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³ If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” [Maybe “peace” means confidence in their association with the-God -- or election. I think introduction of “the Holy Spirit” confuses the peace Jesus offered. With Jesus ascended, who distributes this breath of forgiveness?]

²⁴ Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. ²⁵ So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” [Believe what? Jesus is God? Jesus is the anointed-one and king of Israel? Jesus yields to Christ? The church knows best for all times?]

²⁶ A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

²⁸ Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” [Does the-God agree with Thomas?]

²⁹ Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” [Believed what? That Jesus is the-God as in Verse 28?]

³⁰ Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. ³¹ But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. [This belief seems important to the competition with Israel. However, it does not seem critical to humankind. To humankind, it seems OK if Jesus is the-God and author of Genesis 1. Perhaps “doubting Thomas” got it correct: My Lord and my God. Perhaps humankind’s teacher to the-good is a better belief.

 Also, by attending today’s Nomads’ class, after sending the above comments, I realized that John-20’s last thought, “may have life in his name” sheds healthy doubt on the afterdeath expectations built in my youth. Christ may be for afterdeath: Jesus is for life. Furthermore, Jon Parks gave an impactful sermon on “Faithful Doubting Thomas”, today viewable on youtube.]

[I apply Genesis-1;26-28-NIV perspective to Bible interpretation -- NIV because of the phrase “so they may” in V 26. Coming from the-God, “may” implies “can”. For all I know, Yeshua is the-God, and the-God may be the-good. “For all I know” seems a casual equivalent of “I don’t know the-ineluctable-truth”. I consider my position humble to the-God, whatever it is and would appreciate opportunity to change my opinion if I need to.

I think Genesis 1:26-28 expresses Yeshua’s civic message (YCM):  Human male unites-to female human-being and their spouse-hood can& may pursue comprehensive-safety& security to the living species and to the earth (SECURITY). Every person can& may aid SECURITY, and the civic-citizen so chooses. “Civic” means reliable in human connections& transactions. Some persons neglect, partially or wholly, civic-Yeshua-appreciation, Yeshua’s-peace, and SECURITY. I don’t know that there are humans who cannot, rather than will-not, aid SECURITY. But some humans choose not to aid SECRITY.

I call Genesis-1’s message, “responsible-human-independence”, or RHI. Some human-beings, throughout history, practice, facilitate& encourage RHI. Yeshua exemplified& encouraged RHI. From the past, civic-citizens guide-us to the-good, and consequences from non-civic-persons warn-us against error. I think the-civic-Yeshua guides-us to RHI. Perhaps the authentic Yeshua merely advocated the-good.

But I don’t know the-ineluctable-truth (IDK). “Ineluctable” means: not to be avoided, changed, or resisted, collectively: I can& may choose either RHI or dependency, such as religious arrogance. I can& may be derelict.

Persons who appreciate contemporary human being (verb), during each generation, develop YCM. In other words, YCM facilitates the civic-appreciation that human being (verb) applied “before Abraham was born”, since then, and into the future. Given the question, “Was Yeshua a man?”, I respond IDK, yet value YCM, an attitude which seems sufficient& complete to my person. I advocate the-civic-Yeshua and admit YCM could be the-good. Yet the-good cannot replace the authentic Yeshua. Nor can Christ displace Yeshua. Allowing “Christ” to obfuscate Yeshua seems ruinous.

Perhaps YCM always was the-good human being (verb). Intention to the-good was present at the Big Bang, 13.7 billion years ago. There’s joy in accepting IDK, seeking the-ineluctable-evidence, and reserving humility to RHI. Joy may facilitate happiness.

It seems the-laws-of-physics& progeny (PHYSICS) constrains the consequences of each person’s choices. A person who claims to be a spirit nevertheless bleeds. Physics’ progeny includes: fundamental forces, mathematics, chemistries, biology, psychology, imagination, and their subsets. I choose to accept the-civic-Yeshua and pursue Yeshua’s “my-peace”, in-order-to commit-to and trust-in PHYSICS. For example, I work for food& shelter rather than accept what a bureaucrat might provide. Food is essential and I have no right to it. Only if I secure my energy to work can I help the indigent. I work to aid SECURITY rather than pray for an entity to usurp RHI. Make no mistake: if one of my loved ones seems threatened beyond my protection, I pray to the-God IDK.

Admitting I could be wrong, IDK, I accept that Genesis 1:26-28, NIV, urges me to constrain chaos in my way of living; in other words, urges me to the-good suggested by the-civic-Yeshua I pursue by listening to fellow-citizens. IDK, but at age 81, I perceive joy made possible by Yeshua’s direct-influence and look forward to what I can& may learn on the journey toward age 99 or more if possible and good.]

Luke 24 Jesus not the Christ-construct

 [Introduction: Biblical literature offers hints to the-ineluctable-truth about human opportunity. Here are 3 suggestions: Jesus is the-God (John 1:1), Jesus’ will/intentions (Genesis 1:26-28, NIV featuring “may”), and Jesus’ message, "Be [as] perfect" as the-God (Mathew 5:48). Ineluctable means: not to be avoided, changed, escaped, neglected, obfuscacted, rationalized, or resisted.

The speaking Jesus may have advocated the-good rather than claimed to be “anointed one& king”. Human-beings can& may accept the-good, continually pursue the-good, and continuously practice the-good. If asked how humankind discovered self-interest in the-good, we can& may express appreciation to Jesus. Also, see my Genesis-1 essay about human duty, at the end of this study.

Consider the scholarly Bible evidence, “From Jesus to Christ”, Parts 1& 2, FRONTLINE,1998 at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JN8FM1NCOSk and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXqFvfCaFwY. Humankind can effect the public resurrection of the-civic-Jesus.

Under our generation’s mystery-watch to “ourselves and our Posterity”, Jesus-the-God can surpass Christ -- Judeo-Christian messiah& king.] 

[Notice that Luke:24 says nothing of “Christ”. Someone else posits “Christ is risen”.]

24 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. ² They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, ³ but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. ⁴ While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. ⁵ In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? ⁶ He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ⁷ ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” ⁸ Then they remembered his words.

⁹ When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. ¹⁰ It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James [and Jesus?], and the others with them who told this to the apostles. ¹¹ But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. ¹² Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

¹³ Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. ¹⁴ They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. ¹⁵ As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; ¹⁶ but they were kept from [why not “didn’t”?] recognizing him.

¹⁷ He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”

They stood still, their faces downcast. ¹⁸ One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

¹⁹ “What things?” he asked. [I do not accept that Jesus would feign ignorance of his own crucifixion.]

“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. ²⁰ The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; ²¹ but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. ²² In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning ²³ but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. ²⁴ Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”

²⁵ He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶ Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” ²⁷ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. [What are the elements of this explanation and why doesn’t it start with Genesis 1, which is long before Abraham, rather than with Moses?]

²⁸ As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. ²⁹ But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

³⁰ When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. ³¹ Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. ³² They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

³³ They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together ³⁴ and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon [Who reported that to them?].” ³⁵ Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread. [This seems a reprise of the last supper.] [This story reminded me of lunch with a Protestant and a Catholic. When the Protestant says grace it seems inclusive. When the Catholic makes the sign of the cross it seems egocentric. I’m 79 and never noticed this before. I think prayer is coercive.]

³⁶ While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself [not a spirit?] stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” [What is Jesus’ peace? Can “Christ” enhance it?]

³⁷ They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost [why not “spirit”?]. ³⁸ He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? ³⁹ Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”

⁴⁰ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. ⁴¹ And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” ⁴² They gave him a piece of broiled fish, ⁴³ and he took it and ate it in their presence.

⁴⁴ He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”

⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. ⁴⁶ He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, ⁴⁷ and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name [not “Christ”] to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹ I am going to send you what my Father [Why not “our” Father?] has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” [Political power?]

⁵⁰ When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. ⁵¹ While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. ⁵² Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. ⁵³ And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God. [Is this the Biblical quid pro quo: praise bargained for blessings? I prefer to consider, discuss, choose, practice, facilitate, and encourage adherence-to the-civic-Jesus’ suggestions to the continuum of generations – ourselves and our posterity.]

Luke 24 highlights the importance of Genesis 1, a 5,500 year old Mesopotamian political philosophy. First, in V 44, Jesus reportedly says everything about him since Moses must be fulfilled. However, John 1:1 says Jesus is God and Genesis 1, before both Moses and Abraham says that Jesus willed to humankind responsibility for lives on earth. Jesus seemed to talk to contemporaries as though they were ignorant of both the New Testament and ancient Mesopotamian political philosophy. It seems odd that Jesus would be comfortable with their ignorance of both the before and the after.

[I apply Genesis-1-NIV perspective to Bible interpretation -- NIV because of the phrase “so they may” in V 26. Coming from the-God, “may” implies “can”. For all I know, Jesus is the-God, and the-God may be the-good.

I think Genesis 1:26-28, expresses the-civic-Jesus-message (CJM):  Human male unites-to female human-being and their spouse-hood can& may pursue comprehensive-safety& security to the living species and to the earth (SECURITY). Every person can& may aid SECURITY, and the civic-citizen so chooses. “Civic” means reliable in human connections& transactions. Some persons neglect, partially or wholly, civic-Jesus-appreciation, Jesus’-peace, and SECURITY. I don’t know that there are humans who cannot, rather than will-not, aid SECURITY. But some humans don’t aid SECRITY.

I call Genesis-1’s message, “responsible-human-independence” or RHI. Some human-beings, throughout history, practice, facilitate& encourage RHI. Jesus exemplified& eoncoraged RHI. From the past, civic-citizens guide-us, and consequences from non-civic-persons warn-us against error. I think the-civic-Jesus guides-us to RHI. Perhaps the authentic Jesus merely advocated the-good.

But I don’t know the-ineluctable-truth (IDK). “Ineluctable” means: not to be avoided, changed, escaped, neglected, obfuscated, rationalized, or resisted: I can& may choose either RHI or dependency, such as religious arrogance. I can& may be derelict.

Persons who appreciate contemporary human being (verb), during each generation, develop CJM. In other words, CJM facilitates the civic-appreciation that human being (verb) applied “before Abraham was born”, since then, and into the future. Given the question, “Was Jesus a man?”, I respond IDK, yet value CJM, an attitude which seems sufficient& complete to my person. I advocate the-civic-Jesus and admit that could be the-good. Yet the-good cannot replace the authentic Jesus. Nor can Christ displace Jesus.

Perhaps CJM always was the-good human being (verb). Intention to the-good was present at the Big Bang, 13.7 billion years ago. There’s joy in accepting IDK, seeking the-ineluctable-evidence, and reserving humility to RHI. Joy may facilitate happiness.

It seems the-laws-of-physics& progeny (PHYSICS) constrains the consequences of each person’s choices. A person who claims to be a spirit nevertheless bleeds. Physics’ progeny includes: fundamental forces, mathematics, chemistries, biology, psychology, imagination, and their subsets. I choose to accept the-civic-Jesus and pursue Jesus’ “my-peace”, in-order-to commit-to and trust-in PHYSICS. For example, I work for food& shelter rather than accept what a bureaucrat might provide. Only if I secure my energy to work can I help the indigent. I work to aid SECURITY rather than pray for an entity to usurp RHI. Make no mistake: if one of my loved ones seems threatened beyond my protection, I pray to the-God IDK.

Admitting I could be wrong, IDK, I accept that Genesis 1:26-28, NIV, urges me to constrain chaos in my way of living; in other words, urges me to the-good suggested by the-civic-Jesus I pursue by listening to fellow-citizens. IDK, but at age 79, I perceive joy made possible by Jesus’ direct-influence and look forward to what I can& may learn on the journey toward 99.]

Philippians 2. Can the civic-Jesus surpass Christ?

 

[Introduction: Biblical literature offers hints to the-ineluctable-truth about human opportunity. Here are 3 hints: Jesus is the-God (John 1:1), Jesus’ will (Genesis 1:26-28, NIV featuring “may”), and Jesus’ message, "Be [as] perfect" as the-God (Mathew 5:48). Ineluctable means: not to be avoided, changed, escaped, hidden, neglected, rationalized, or resisted.

The living Jesus may have advocated the-good rather than claimed to be “anointed one& king”. Human-beings can& may accept the-good, continually pursue the-good, and continuously practice the-good. If asked how humankind discovered self-interest in the-good, we can& may express appreciation to Jesus. Also, see my Genesis-1 essay about human duty, at the end of this study.

Consider the scholarly Bible evidence, “From Jesus to Christ”, Parts 1& 2, FRONTLINE,1998 at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JN8FM1NCOSk and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXqFvfCaFwY. Each Easter, we can effect the public resurrection of the-civic-Jesus and accept the mysterious-Jesus presence in the beginning until the end of time.

Under our generation’s mystery-watch to “ourselves and our Posterity”, Jesus, the-God, can surpass Christ, Judeo-Christian messiah& king.] 

Philippians 2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ [neglecting Jesus?], if any comfort from his love [appreciation], if any common sharing in the Spirit [personal motivation& inspiration], if any tenderness and compassion [kindness& justice], ² then make my joy complete [Pauline arrogance against Jesus?] by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. ³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others [together, oppressing Jesus for Christ].

⁵ In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

⁶ Who, being in very nature [or in the form of] God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
⁷ rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature [or the form] of a servant,
    being made in human likeness. [Paul doubly misses Jesus’ emphasis on Genesis-1’s assertion that the-God willed humankind to be like the-God “so they may” rule” life on earth.]
⁸ And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross!

⁹ Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,
¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹ and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father. [This is bold lessening of “Jesus” to “Jesus Christ”. It lifts a Christian squabble over Judeo “anointed one”, in-order-to suppress Jesus’s will: each human, in the likeness of the-God, can& may perfect their unique person before death. Shame on Paul for aggressive ignorance regarding Jesus’ references to Genesis 1, a Sumerian rather than Israeli political philosophy. Note: I constantly remind readers: Phil Beaver thinks Christ does not displace Jesus but does not know. And for all I know, Jesus is the-God.]

¹² Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling [a philosophical work by Søren Kierkegaard, published in 1843], ¹³ for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

¹⁴ Do everything without grumbling or arguing, ¹⁵ so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” [So far, every generation has denied Genesis 1:2-28’s “so they may”.] Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky ¹⁶ as you hold firmly to the word of life [Jesus rather than Christ – the word of death]. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ [a brash Christ-prediction I’m glad I did not make] that I did not run or labor in vain. ¹⁷ But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. ¹⁸ So you too should [can& may] be glad and rejoice with me.

¹⁹ I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. ²⁰ I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. ²¹ For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ [how does Jesus react to Christ-neglect of his person?]. ²² But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel [the gospel of Christ above Jesus]. ²³ I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. ²⁴ And I am confident in the Lord [what is Paul’s Lord: God? Jesus? Christ? Jesus Christ? Paul’s opinion? Paul’s pride?] that I myself will come soon.

²⁵ But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. ²⁶ For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. ²⁷ Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. ²⁸ Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. ²⁹ So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, ³⁰ because he almost died for the work of Christ [not Jesus]. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me. [Let 2023 mark the reform of civic-churches from advocating Christ above Jesus. Civic implies reliability in human connections& transactions.]

The importance of Genesis 1, a 5,500 year old Mesopotamian political philosophy:

[I apply Genesis-1-NIV perspective to Bible interpretation, NIV because of the phrase “so they may” in V 26. Coming from the-God, “may” implies “can”. For all I know, Jesus is the-God, and the-God may be the-good.

I think Genesis 1:26-28, expresses the-civic-Jesus-message (CJM):  Human male unites-to female human-being and their spouse-hood can& may pursue comprehensive-safety& security to the living species and to the earth (SECURITY). Every person can& may aid SECURITY, and the civic-citizen so chooses. Some persons neglect, partially or wholly, mysterious-Jesus-appreciation, Jesus’-peace, and SECURITY. I don’t know that there are humans who cannot, rather than will-not, aid SECURITY.

I call Genesis-1’s message, “responsible-human-independence” or RHI. Some human-beings, throughout history, practice, facilitate& encourage RHI. History’s Jesus exemplified RHI. From the past, civic-citizens guide-us and consequences from non-civic-persons warn-us against error. I think the-civic-Jesus guides-us to RHI. “Civic” means reliable in human connections& transactions. Perhaps the authentic Jesus merely advocated the-good.

But I don’t know the-ineluctable-truth (IDK). “Ineluctable” means: not to be avoided, changed, escaped, hidden, neglected, rationalized, or resisted: I can& may choose either RHI or dependency, such as religious arrogance. I can& may be derelict.

Persons appreciating contemporary human being (verb), during each generation, develop CJM. In other words, CJM facilitates the civic-appreciation that human being (verb) applied “before Abraham was born” and since then. Given the question, “Was Jesus a man?”, I respond IDK yet value CJM, an attitude which seems sufficient& complete to my person. I advocate the-civic-Jesus and admit that could be the-good. Yet the-good cannot replace the authentic Jesus. Nor can Christ displace Jesus.

Perhaps CJM always was the-good human being (verb). Intention to the-good was present at the Big Bang, 13.7 billion years ago. There’s joy in accepting IDK, seeking ineluctable-evidence, and reserving humility to RHI. Joy may facilitate happiness.

It seems the-laws-of-physics& progeny (PHYSICS) constrains the consequences of each person’s choices. A person who claims to be a spirit nevertheless bleeds. Physics’ progeny includes: fundamental forces, mathematics, chemistries, biology, psychology, imagination, and their subsets. I choose to accept mysterious-Jesus and pursue Jesus’ “my-peace”, in-order-to commit-to and trust-in PHYSICS. For example, I work for food& shelter rather than accept what a bureaucrat might provide. Only if I secure my energy to work can I help the indigent. I work to aid SECURITY rather than pray for an entity to usurp RHI. Make no mistake: if one of my loved ones seems threatened beyond my protection, I pray to the-God IDK.

Admitting I could be wrong, IDK, I accept that Genesis 1:26-28, NIV, urges me to constrain chaos in my way of living; in other words, urges me to the-good suggested by the-civic-Jesus I pursue by listening to fellow-citizens.]