Hi, I just surfed in search for interesting blogs on Spirituality. You have a cool blog. Do keep up the good work. I’ll be back even though I live far from where you live. It’s nice to be able to see what people from across the world thinks.
Warm Regards from the Other Side of the Moon.
On a related note perhaps you might find the following link interesting. It’s proposing a theory and I’ll like to hear your take on the subject via comments. See ya.
Bibby (Kerala, India)
Dear Bibby,
The entire life of Jesus the Christ is recorded in the Bible; although there are those that say that for eighteen years the Bible is silent about what happened to Jesus, this misconception is because of their ignorance in the understanding of the Scriptures. There was never any chance of Jesus joining the Essenic community. Let me prove this to you: historically, scientifically, and biblically.
Consideration #1: There were various religious groups or factions during the time of Jesus Christ: The Pharisees, the Scribes, and the Sadducees.
(Acts 23:6-8) “But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question. And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.”
The Lord Jesus Christ, in the four Gospels, criticized all these groups.
(Matthew 23:15) “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.”
The scribes and Pharisees hated the Lord Jesus Christ.
He was also very vocal in his criticism about the Sadducees.
(Matthew 22:23, 29) “The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him…
…Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God.”
These groups were never in good terms.
(Acts 23:6-8) “But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question. And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.”
Logic and ordinary promptings of man dictates that if the Lord Jesus is a member of the Essenic community, the critical Jesus, should have invited the ire of these groups to attack or retaliate against the group of Jesus. Never in the gospels written by four different evangelists, with the addition of a late comer, Paul, was there any mention of Essenoi, which was only mentioned outside of the Bible by the Jewish historian, Flavius Josephus.
Consideration #2: The entire life of Jesus was known to the Jews. They knew Him from boyhood to adulthood until the time He started to preach the gospel. When he preached, they marveled at Him asking…
(John 7:15) “And the Jews marveled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?”
For the Jews to categorically assert that Jesus Christ has never studied, it means that they have seen the entire life of Jesus. In fact, they even know His family background and His lowly profession of being a carpenter.
(Mark 6:2-3) “And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.”
Jesus, being the first born of Mary, helped His foster father Joseph in his carpentry work. The teenage years of Jesus up to age 30 were spent being a carpenter. There is no such thing as “eighteen lost years of Jesus”
Had Jesus been a member of the Essenic Jewish religious sect, it should have been mentioned by His detractors, and would not say, “How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?”
Consideration #3: Jesus said that His teachings came directly from the Father.
(John 12:49) “For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.”
He did not learn it from any religious group or affiliation. He was sent by the Father and His authority as the original teacher of Christianity is affirmed by His predecessor John the Baptist.
(Matthew 3:11) “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire…”
His heavenly Father confirmed and affirmed His election, with three reliable living witnesses then, and two spirit beings in a vision.
(Matthew 17:1-5) “And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elijah talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.”
Nobody, no religious faction or group, taught Jesus, but His Father in heaven.
(John 7:16) “Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.”
Consideration #4: The teachings of the Essenic community such as: Celibacy and purification by water rituals (among others) are contrary to the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Even His apostles were not forbidden to marry by Jesus.
(1 Corinthians 9:5) “Do we not have the right to be accompanied by a wife, as the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? RSV
Purification rituals by water were criticized by the Lord Jesus in the gospel.
(Mark 7:7-8) “Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.”
I am not against the Essenic community as portrayed by Flavius Josephus; but my point is, that Jesus is not an Essene. His teachings are original, irrefutable, and absolute truth: which came directly from the Father.
God Bless.
EFS
esoriano 
thank you very much for the clarification.
The Essenes were not called Christians at the time of Jesus but there is a strong evidence that Jesus was a member of this religious sect. The evidence is that Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist who was believed to be an Essene. John follows a ritual of celibacy and the pagan practice of baptism which is the ritual of purification by water practice also by the Essenes.
The Jews called the Essenic belief as a cult or they were called heretic because their religion was the first to preach the end of the world. Their religion is apocalyptic. Bible scholars trace Christian doctrines to the writings of the Essenes which were discovered in the caves of Qumran by a shepherd boy in 1947. It was here that the word “church” originated that was written in their book “Community Rule” which was first taught by the Essenes.
Qumran is believed by scholars that this is the place where Paul in his epistle described as; “the road on the way to Damascus.” There are some passages in the New Testament that can be attributed to the writings of the Essenes.
Here is the proof. In the bible, before Jesus ministry there was already John the Baptist who was preaching baptism, salvation and the end of the world. Scholars believed that John the Baptist was an Essene. He baptized his followers in the River Jordan. When Jesus came he baptized him also. Therefore
Jesus is a follower of John the Baptist who was an Essene.
The Dead Sea Scrolls which were discovered in 1946 are believed to be the writings of the Essenes. They believed in baptism, salvation, the end of the world and the doctrine of the children of light and the children of darkness. During Jesus ministry he also taught the belief of the Essenes of baptism, salvation, the end of the world and the doctrine of the children of light and the children of darkness.
greetings!
im an avid fan of your blogs and i would like to ask permission from you if i can also post your blogs on my 360 webpage at yahoo and on en.netlog.com so as to get more readers to read your blogs. if you dont mind. thank you. more power!
The infallable truth of The Bible stands to whatever critics against it,shall surely be put to shame!
These unBiblical people, who claims and even tag CHRIST as being Essenic is a complete, absolute and with certainty without a shadow of doubt called; “a False witnessess!”
Even they come to a conclusion of their own stand and belief as to Christ is Essenic, why then they do not take the teachings of CHRIST?
Is it revealing? If you think as you perverts believed so, why does you teaching against humanity and GOD?
If your claims are true,then you must work hard as what CHRIST taught,is not?
Shame on your claims and to what ever your false and defiled thinking as CHRIST being one of your own and not labor for the good cause rather until now work for and aginst what CHRIST taught!
What your doing is just making the truth that is in The Bible more reliable than any of your false claims against The CHRIST!
That what your doing, as The CHRIST Essenic, is or are self-incrimination! This makes the Bible true and that you are part of those being mentioned as against good and nothing from the defiled are pure rather their hearts and their consciences are defiled!
Haven’t reality makes sense as to proved that what is said by CHRIST 2OOO years ago are unfolding to this very time that perverts and unBiblical people wrestle of the truth?
Absolutely!
Scripture:
“….learn of Me……”
Matthew 11:29 King James Version
Are you Essenic’s sure, you are CHRIST disciples?
More Power to you brother Eli
GOD Bless in CHRIST
Of all the most needed in this world, love is the most sought to, and compassion, the manifestation of that love to others, like how the bride gives enormous understanding to everyone, wishes that the words and health of the Bridegroom (who is Jesus) must be able to be spread to all nations. And not just nations but all denominations that can be reached by the human race.
The human race is the most reason why God wanted the universe to be created, for Him to find someone who will love him back. And yet now, many has not been loving everyone… most are torn with their own greed, lost with their own lust and grieved by their own mistakes. I tell u, unless you have understood why each and everyone one of you must suffer, so must you will be able to bear any suffering you can bear. For it is an honor in Christ to suffer what he has suffered, and that honor is not just spiritual but physical.
What will you do if your Bride became a spirit that you long to hold but can not just to?
What will you do if she is sent to hell?
And what will you do if she, to the most part, has forgotten happiness of how much you have loved her?
Only when all nations has learned the value of peace so will they understand that the reason why the Diabolos hasn’t invaded this planet yet is because Jesus sacrificed his life here, and it serves as a treaty among all loverse.
( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULl03uFWzvM )
And the greatest misconception of man has ever known is that He left us, and He never manifests himself to us in times of need. Why oh why have u forgotten? I tell you, he is here, and has been with us through all generations. He continues to suffer yet is able to save everyone for he doesn’t want now to give up what he has sacrificed. War, Lust and Power is what we need to repel and to be avoiding.
Be content with what you have, but give others almsgiving as much as you can. If you have less then give less, so that you do not suffer the same fate as he does, but if you have a lot then give more, so that your grace is shared to all.
( http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ja3p-OVlN1Q )
He will always be his friend, and though I speak in third person, I just hope that you will never see Jesus Christ, as a stranger… but a part of your family.
( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzn2sJYkH4M )
Inlove for God,
Fei Fong Wong
Brrr! I was just able to read this book earlier today about Jesus’ “lost years” (His life from 19 – 28 years old). It did specify that Jesus had an education and was a member of the Essene.
Wow! Talk about coincidence! Thanks for the clarification, Bro. Eli! I also belice that Jesus Christ’s teaching are from the Father, and not simply based from a so-called “Teacher of Enlightenment” (who allegedly was Jesus’ mentor).
Although it ispossible there could be similarities, but I do think that it was Jesus who preached the Father’s will (otherwise He won’t be the Way) rather than “influenced” by a certain human mentor in His teachings!
To God be the glory!
The only logical reason that i can think of about these people who claimed Jesus as member of an essenic community is jealousy. The fact that the teachings of our Lord Jesus lasted until now and influenced people of different faith everywhere around the globe is something extraordinary. They (jews) killed him on the cross. they thought it’s going to end there. However, they never realized that when the seed was buried into the ground that’s the time it’s going to grow. Since kingdom as stated in the gospel will be given to other that has the capacity to bear fruit they have realized it has happened. In contrary to them, their faith remain only in their vicinity. These has been foretold. They are jealous because it didn’t happen from them. They wanted to reap the success that has been going on until now. they wanted to be on the limelight and not our Lord jesus. It only shows that until now they are still trying to discount him as the messiah. ssD
One of the main reasons why some “scholars” believed that way is that they claim the Jesus learned the concept of the “Holy Spirit” from the essenes, since allegedly no other religious sect, even the Jews, came out with this “original concept.”
The book which I read stated how certain individuals destroyed parts of the original scrolls found in the Dead Sea, which was mainly used for the current translations of the Scriptures which we have.
But again, such are just “claims.” Much like the said discussions about the lost Scriptural passages and Jesus’ alleged romantic affair with Mary Magdalene.
As days pass, my heart is being bothered by how many people’s hearts and minds are clouded by such useless thinking and concerns. However, I do pray that may the number of individuals come to enlightenment, with the help of the Almighty!
The Essenic community
The “first Christians” were not called “Christians”! That term was not used until years later. They were called “Essene Nazarene Ebionites”.
The term “Nazarene” refers to a member of the Essene movement associated with Mount Carmel in Northern Israel. The Essene village was called “Nazareth”. Those who lived there were called “Nazarenes
The fact that Jesus was referred to as “the Nazarene” demonstrates the link between early Christianity and the Essene Nazarenes of Mount Carmel.
In The Essene New Testament,
Jesus tells his disciples that blood sacrifice cannot bring salvation:
Jesus was teaching his disciples in the outer court of the Temple and one of themsaid unto him
“Master, it is said by the priests that without shedding of blood there is no remission of sins. Can blood offerings take away sin?” Jesus answered, “No blood offering of beast or bird or man can take away sin. For how can the conscience be purged from sin by the shedding of innocent blood? Nay, it will increase the condemnation…. For sins against the Law of God there can be no remission, except by repentance and amendment.”
COMPARISON
ESSENE CHRISTIANITY:
Women permitted to speak in church
Women and men have equal rights
God is both Father and Mother
Salvation is dependent on following
the saving teachings of Jesus
Belief in reincarnation in the context
of a cosmic school system
Teachings based on the words of Jesus
PAULINE CHRISTIANITY:
Women required to wear head covering as
as sign of submission to their husbands
Women required to submit to the authority
of their husbands as if their husbands were
Jesus Christ
Women were created for men
Men were not created for women
Okay to eat meat
Slavery is permitted
Christians can even own other
Christians as slaves
Christians slaves must work extra
hard if their slave master is a Christian
Salvation is dependent on belief in the
sacrificial death of Jesus on the Cross
Based on this life only, you will either go
to heaven (if you believe in Jesus’s sacrificial
death) or will burn in hell for eternity
Teachings based on the ideas of Paul
Use a New Testament with many more
words of Paul than Jesus
The triumph of literalist Christianity ushered in a Dark Age of ignorance, bigotry and dogmatism.
The days of Constantine were the last turning-point in history, the period of the Supreme struggle that ended in the Western world throttling the” Old Path” in favour of the new one, built on their bodies
By the end of the 5th century, the destruction was so complete that Archbishop Chrystostom could boast: ‘Every trace of the old philosophy and literature of the ancient world has vanished from the face of the earth
Literalism is a degenerate form of the original Jesus mysteries
Christianity in its present ossified form has little to offer,
A religion without mystics, the Outer Mysteries without the Inner Mysteries, form without content.
As what Bro. Eli has said, Jesus can never be an Essene, because at Luke 4:29 says, people from Nazareth tried to kill Him by throwing Him off a cliff because of our Lord’s teachings.
This only means that our Lord blatantly rebukes the Essenes’ worldly teachings, that made them angry enough to kill Him.
Thanks be to God for having the “Most Sensible Preacher” (Bro. Eli) of our time explaining and clarifying issues of faith like this one. And proclaiming the Glory of our Lord Jesus Christ and the incomaparable Honor, Holiness, and Power of His Father to all men.
Again thanks be to God…
…………”And God said…”behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; TO YOU IT SHALL BE FOR MEAT”. GEN 1:29
Vegetarian diet is more healthy and less full of toxins than meat…….Maybe this is the reasons why……our forefathers in the old testaments.. LIVE LONGER because they are following the old teaching
EVen John the Baptist was a vegetarian…………”John was clothed with camels hair and with a girdle of a skin about his loins, and he did eat LOCUST AND WILD HONEY” (mark 1:6)
Regarding John the Baptist…..Epiphanius quotes: “It came to pass that john was baptizing and there went out to him pharises and were baptized, and all Jerusalem. And john had a garment of camels hair and a lethern girldle about his loins, and his food was a wild honey, the taste of which was that of manna, as a cake dipped in oil…………Gospel of Ebionites, 30:13 NTAI p. 157.
And by josephus about John the Baptist he said…….”John replied…”I am a man called by the spirit of God, and I live on stems, roots and fruit….Josephus, JWF p. 404
Peter is also a vegetarian…..As regards his own habits, Peter says:…….”I live on bread alone with olives and seldom even with pot herbs; and my dress is what you see a tunic with a pallium and having these, I require nothing more. Clementine Recognition VII: VI cr. Pp. 340-341
EVEN JOSEPH THE FATHER OF JESUS IS A VEGETARIAN “ My father joseph, the blessed old man, was working at the trade of carpentry, whilst we lived by the work of his h ands…….HE NEVER ATE BREAD FOR NOUGHT, DOING ACCORDING TO THE LAW OF MOSES…….Death of joseph IX CAG p. 133
EVEN JAMES THE BROTHER OF JESUS IS A Vegetarian, James, the brother of the lord, succeeded to the government of the Church in conjunction with the aposltles. He has been called the Just (the Righteous) by all from the time of our saviour to the present day; for there were many that bore the name of James……he was holy from his mother worm, and he drunk no wine nor strong drink, NOR DID HE EAT FLESH” Hegesippus, in Eusebius, History of the Church Hc pp. 99-100
MATTHEW AND THOMAS ALSO IS A VEGETARIAN
“happiness is found in the practice of virtue. Accordingly, the apostle Matthew partook seeds ,and nuts and vegetables without flesh………..clement of Alexandria, WCAI p. 197
“that which he eateth is bread and salt and his drink is water from evening unto evening and he maketh many prayers…Act of Thomas 104, ANT p. 410
EVEN SAINT JOHN WAS A VEGETARIAN
“ His sustenance was, from the ninth to the ninth hour once, when he had finished prayer, bread and herbs with a mess of boiled lentils, which he bought for himself as he went from town to town eating and drinking water only……………History of John AAA p. 8
Most of Jesus close companion were vegetarian. What about Jesus HImself? Did Jesus eat fish, pork, lamb, beef etc?
Well, Jesus philosophy of non-violence was as far advanced as that of any other teacher of this subject, Jesus also reiterated the commandment attributed to Moses, “though shalt not kill” as we find it in the King james version of mark and luke……IN many modern translation however, the key word has been changed to “murder” in both old and new testament, Murders implies only human being……while killing refers to all life.
How can one who…..advises turning the other cheek, giving your cloak to one who has already taken your coat and walking two miles with one who has already coerced you into goin one mile with them, be thought to have happily eaten up the bodies of slaughtered animals?
How can one who is so far removed from the thought of violence and revenge that he recommends extending unlimited forgiveness to others, advises loving your enemies and doing good to those who treat you badly, have been condoned the killing of other creatures for foods?
Cruelties and Sacrifices
The great feast of the Jews was on and joseph, mary and their son and many of their kin, went to Jerusalem, Jesus was ten years old. And Jesus watched the butchers kill the lambs and birds and burn them on the altar in the name of God. His tender heart was shocked at this display of cruelty
Little Jesus: ” What is the purpose of this slaughter of the beast and birds? Why do you burn their flesh before the lord? ”
Serving Priest: “this is our sacrifice for sin. God has commanded us to do these things, and said that in these sacrifices all our sins are blotted out.
Little Jesus: “Will you be kind enough to tell when God proclaimed that sins are blotted out by sacrifice of any kind?
Serving Priest: My child you are beside yourself. Do you know more about the laws of God than all the priests of Israel? This is no place for boys to show their wit.
But Jesus heeded not his taunts; he went to Hillel- chief of the Sanhedrin
Little Jesus: “Rabboni, I would like to talk with you; I am disturbed about this service of the pascal feast. I thought the temple was the house of God where love and kindness dwell” Do you not hear the bleating of those lambs, the pleading of those doves that men are killing over there? Do you not smell that awful stench that comes from the burning flesh? A GOD THAT TAKES DELIGHT IN SACRIFICE, IN BLOOD AND BURNING FLESH, IS NOT MY FATHER-GOD, I want to find a God of Love, and you, my master, you are wise, and surely you can tell me where to find the God of Love”
But Hillel -the chief sanhedrin could not give an answer to the child. His heart was stirred with sympathy. He called the child to him; he laid his hand upon his head and wept.
Hillel: “There is a God of love, and you shall come with me; and hand in hand we will go forth and find the God of love”
Little Jesus: Why need we go? I thought that God was everywhere. Can we not purify our hearts and drive out cruelty, and every wicked thought, and make within, a temple where the God of love can dwell?
The master of the great Sanhedrin felt as though he was himself the child and that before him stood Rabboni, master of the higher law. He said within himself, This child is surely prophet sent from God.
to servo:
servo: As what Bro. Eli has said, Jesus can never be an Essene, because at Luke 4:29 says, people from Nazareth tried to kill Him by throwing Him off a cliff because of our Lord’s teachings. This only means that our Lord blatantly rebukes the Essenes’ worldly teachings, that made them angry enough to kill Him.
Refutation: The term “Nazarene” refers to a member of the Essene movement associated with Mount Carmel in Northern Israel. The Essene village was called “Nazareth”. Those who lived there were called “Nazarenes
” He shall be called Nazarene” ( matthew 2:23)
………and he said: I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest” (Acts 22:8)
To Essene:
i disagree with what you said that John the Baptist, the apostles, etc. are vegetarians. remember that as Jews/Israelites, they are commanded by God to celebrate Passover annually and on such occasions they are required to eat lamb
To chad:
You said: remember that as Jews/Israelites, they are commanded by God to celebrate Passover annually and on such occasions they are required to eat lamb
my reply:
” the man went and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. And this was why the Jews persecuted Jesus, because HE DID THIS on the sabbath. (John 5:15-16)
“the sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath”
Likewise, Passover feast was commanded for the Jews/Israelite to celebrate, but they were not created for Passoever feast.
Karma provides us with the only rational explanation for our plight in the world, Yes it is very simple to define Karma but one can spend a lifetime studying its finer points. The principle of Karma can be stated quite simply: Karma is a moral law of cause and effect wherein an individual is given precisely what he has earned. This means that our present status in this world (for example health, financial
circumstances, place of residence, parents, and relative, degree of happiness and sadness and so on.) is determined by the actions we have performed in the past. What past? Those lifetimes which have lived prior to our present incarnation.
It is not possible to have the law of karma without the principle of reincarnation or transmigration of the soul. For if we are reaping what we have sown, we must have
sown the seeds in some past existence, as we cannot account for all our present karmas from what we have sown in this one lifetime.
An interesting principles is given in the bible in the Gospel of John:
John 9:1-3 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
This would have been an excellent opportunity for Jesus to come right out against the doctrine of Karma and Reincarnation. But he did not do so. Instead, he resorted to the doctrine of Predestination by saying, “Neither this man sinned or his parents, but [in order] that the works of God might be manifest through him. so taking the story at face value, the disciples clearly presumes that the suffering
of the blind man and his parents is due to sin. And since the man was born blind, it seems that they are thinking of some past existence, for how else could an embryo or a newborn baby have committed sin. With regards to John 9:1-3 the reply however, s incongruous, for Jesus says that neither the parents nor the man have sinned but that the situation has been divinely arranged so that he can perform the miracles
restoring sight to the blind man. That God would have created such suffering simply so that Jesus could perform a miracle seems an UNTENABLE idea.
With so many sick people already in need of help, surely there would have been NO need for a baby to be born blind simply for the sake of a miracle later in his life. And many other similar miracles stories in the gospels are clearly associated with the FORGIVENESS OF SINS- AGAIN POINTING TO THE DIRECT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SIN AND PHYSICAL
INFIRMITY, AND THEY END HAPPILY WITH JESUS CURING THE SICK PERSON OF HIS OR HER PARTICULAR CONDITION, TELLING THEM THAT THEIR SINS ARE FORGIVEN…..”go and sin no more” john 5:14, john 8:11, mat 9:2 and in one instances he adds “”lest worse thing come to you” john 5:14. ALSO IN st. John, Jesus says that neither the man nor his parents have sinned. Perhaps, then, the dialogue was originally one
of John’s metaphorical passages with a double meaning, implying both THE PHYSICAL AND THE SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS INTO WHICH ALL SOULS ARE BORN BOTH BEING THE RESULT OF SIN. So, FOR IF IT WERE AGREED THAT SICKNESS WAS THE RESULT OF SIN, THEN NATURALLY THOSE WHO ARE
BORN WITH INFIRMITIES MUST HAVE COMMITTED SINS BEFORE THEIR BIRTH.
Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (matt. 14:14)
A new born baby can hardly have performed any action for which he needs repent! However,the Bible is very firm on the principles that we have been born into a state of sin.
This sin is in fact, the karma of our previous births for which we are suffering in this lifetime. We must pay for our past actions and repent (through right living and meditation) before we can enter the kingdom of heaven. Many persons who live seemingly evil lives in this incarnation are getting many rewards by which of riches, good health, long life, and the like. Obviously they cannot be receiving these rewards as a result of their present actions.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And theservant abideth not in the house forever, but the Son abideth ever. John 8:43-45
There are two types of people in the world One is the devotee of a Saint and hence a devotte of the Lord, and the Other is the devotee of mind and senses. The devotees of
the Lord always remain devoted to the “Saints” and gradually become free from all sin (karma) by performing the spiritual practices directed by him., the other person however
is dominated by the mind and senses and therefore is always committing sins and having to suffer as a result of those sins or karmas. So they are the “servants of sins” because they have no option but to reap the results of their sinful deeds. A
servant is not free to do as he likes, but has to go where his master wants him to . “The servant of sin” cannot abide in the house of the lord forever, but must continually shift from one body to another, in birth after birth, according to the sins and unfulfil led desires of his previous birth. By “servant”, Christ means one who is a victim of the senses. He is a servant of sin and hence can never remain in one house or in one body. His master is in and wherever his sins take him, he has to go to reap the consequences of them; for wherever the master goes, the servant must also go. The “Son” on the other hand, is one who has risen above the sphere of sin…..of Action and Reaction…..and has become one with the Father.
The sphere of action and reactions is another term for the realm of karma. One who has risen above the realm of karma is saved from birth and death and abides forever with the Father. “The son abideth ever” refers to any evolved soul who has realized the Father within himself and consequently has merged into the Father. The master of the house can always go out of the house whenever he likes, but the servant cannot leave without the permission of the master. Our karmas are our master, but the son is his own master. Karma cannot keep him in the body.
Christ gives us some advice as to how to handle our karmas:
“Agree with thine adversary quickly, while thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer,
and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say unto thee, thou shalt by no means come out hence, till thou has maid the uttermost farthing. Matthew 5:25-26
Here, Christ suggest that we should ask for forgiveness quickly and pay our debts while we are still in this body and while the other party is also in this world, or we will be cast into prison. This world into which we are continuously cast by the “Wheel of transmigration”, is a prison for us, as we are separated from the Father and are unable to return to our true home. If we forgive our adversary, then we are in a position to ask for forgiveness from the father. But if we do not forgive the karmas which have been performed against us, how can we expect forgiveness?
Then Christ tells his disciples how one can escape from the Wheel of Transmigration:
Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. John 8:51.
Christ says that if you keep my teaching, that is, if you are faithful to my teaching, you will never see death. Obviously, every one of us in this world must face death sometimes. But for those who are followers of a perfect living master, there will not be rebirth: they will not have to face death again. They will be free from death, in other words, free from transmigration. And how do we follow the teachings of the Christ?
“If ye continue in my Word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. John 8:31-32
“If ye continue in my Word” means: If you continue to attach yourselves to the Holy spirit or “Word” within to which I have connected you. Christ is telling us that we should follow his instructions and perform the spiritual practice which he has taught. When we follow the spiritual practice as instructed
by the living master, then we come in contact with the “Truth”, The “Word” or the Holy ghost. Then we become truly free. Then we are cleansed of all our karmas.
And this can only happen when we contact a Perfect living master, and receive the boon of initiation from him and attend to the spiritual practice which he teaches. But so long as we are a victim of the mind and senses, we can never be properly free.
“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed”. John 8:36
Therefore, if we want to become the master in our house (this human form), a perfect master is necessary, who is one with the Father, and he will set us free from this Wheel of birth and death.
Christ explains that it is the Lord himself who has ordained the necessity of a
living master.
“And this is the will of him that sent me, that everyone which seeth the Son and believeth on him, may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:40
You see, it is Ludicrous to believe that God is a soul-making factory who daily dispatches a newly created souls to earth and then on the basis of tiny span of life, dispatches them to Heaven or to some eternal Hell. This Theory does not hold up very well to critical examination. The human lifetime is so short as to make God-realization a near impossibility in any one lifetime.
So in short, as one can see, it is an endless chain of cause and effect. This is what Christ means when he so often refers to the fact that we are born into sin or, in other words, with our own particular Karma. Without a Perfect Master we can
never return to the Father. Our load of Karmas is so heavy that we are bound to this world for Eons and have been wandering as prodigal sons since the creation of the world
To chad
you wrote: remember that as Jews/Israelites, they are commanded by God to celebrate Passover annually and on such occasions they are required to eat lamb
my reply:
“the man went and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. And this was why the Jews persecuted Jesus,
because HE DID THIS on the sabbath.” (John 5:15-16)
“the sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath”
Passoever feast was commanded for the jews/Israelite to celebrate but the Jews/Israelite were not created for the Passoverl feast.
Hi i just surfed in searching for interesting facts on Essenes in the blogs.
you have a cool blog. Do keep up the good work. I’ll be back for more. i live
far from where you live. its nice to be able to see what people from across
the world thinks.
On a related note perhaps you might find the following article interesting.
we are currently doing a series of posts on essenes and their culture and i’ll
like to hear your take on the subject via comments. See ya there….
Historical
Facts on Essene Culture
Warm Regards from the Other Side of the Moon.
Bijoy Cletus – Kerala, India
Jesus Christ was never an essene, and Bro Eli has laid out the simple and logical reasons. Several verses mentioned by Bro Eli are proofs that JESUS CHRIST himself said that He received directly from GOD THE FATHER all that HE preached. It has been prophesied that many will claim that they are also followers of CHRIST. Some even attached the name of CHRIST in their own churches to project an image of originality or bolster their claim of being the true church, which they are not. Almost all churches claiming to be Christians have their own illussions and false claims that they are connected to CHRIST. Many pretends of course that they are of GOD but their actions contradict them. The issue has been biblically explained, thus similar claims by any other group in the future is easy to understand. Bro Eli and Bro Daniel will always be there to help us understand the biblical messages or any claim or question to the contrary. Lets hear more topics in this blog. Thank you Bro Eli and Bro Daniel. LET US PRAISE GOD.
Rhina is ELI a MEAT EATER most people who try to discredit that JESUS was not a ESSENE is becausce they eat anything and everything JESUS would never eat any kind of dead animal or FISH didn’t he get PETER to give up eating FISH GENESIS 1:29 thats for all time GO-VEGAN
Christ is not a member of any organization founded by man.
Instead, Jesus is the head of the Church of God.
But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
Hebrews 3:6
King James Version
But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
I Timothy 3:15
King James Version
Dudes, the Essene religious group flourished since 200 BC. Yet prophecies about Jesus being called a Nazarene or Jesus’ ties to this “Nazareth-Nazarene issue” dated back even to the time of the prophets, with some evidences dating back 500 BC. Come on guys, don’t be stubborn kids. For the believers, can some of you cite verses on the BIBLE to prove my claim? I know I can’t remember verses, but I’m sure there are…
Anyway, MAY THE PEACE OF THE LORD BE WITH US ALWAYS!!!
masked Rider Kiba don’t call anyone DUDE DUDE who the hell do you think you are DUDE