Whodoyousaythatiam

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American Public University *

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Oct 30, 2023

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Butcher 1 Stephanie Butcher Professor Demian Wheeler, Ph. D. TR607: Jesus February 28, 2018 Who Do You Say that I am? Three Perspectives If Jesus were to ask me “Who Do You Say that I Am?” I might find myself in an uncomfortable position. My traditional Episcopal beliefs tell me who Jesus was and I would of course reply with one such answer. I would also mention Jesus as a likely liberal in today’s American society. Lastly, I would refer to him as God’s avatar linking him to Krishna and other divine teachers. I say Jesus Is the atom of all atoms. He is everything and everywhere. Who Do You Say That I Am?

Butcher 2 The anointed One, The Christ, our teacher brought to bring peace, love and salvation for mankind. My Episcopal faith affirms Jesus as the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father. His mission was to come teach the word of God and His messages of love, peace and eternal life. His final gift to man would be his own human life in the exchange for the sins of all past, present and future. I say he is the knowledge and voice of God in the flesh. Jesus is the messenger, the deliverer of God’s new covenant with man. This teacher gave mankind knowledge to the path in which to take in order to find his salvation and eternal life. Jesus is the epitome of unconditional love. He brought with him messages of love thy neighbor and reminded us to love our enemies as well. Jesus brought with him teachings to show mankind how to treat one another and how important forgiveness was. His teachings assured those that followed him would find God. His statement “The Kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21 KJ) brings a message that we need not wait and look for a sign rather the love of God resides in all of us. I do love this image of “Who Jesus is” as it coincides with my upbringing and the “box of faith” I was taught. When I say box of faith I am referring to the Christian story of Jesus many of us are engulfed into the moment we are born never to hear of any other stories. If we did hear other stories, they were considered false. I am inclined to believe there is much we have been deprived of with regards to who Jesus was and the details of his life. While many parts of his life are suspiciously excluded, I am convinced Jesus was a divine spirit given to mankind in the form of flesh and blood to bring about change and give hope to all those who would follow him throughout history. Who Do You Say That I Am?

Butcher 3 Jesus the Liberal Snowflake My relationship with Jesus has always been a very personal one. One without much influence from the Catholic Church I was raised in. I studied him in my catechism as well as on my own. I found Jesus to be a kind, loving, forgiving man. It was my understanding that he rebuked the behaviors and judgments of the scribes and Pharisees. While Jesus did advise his listeners to respect the scribes and Pharisees because of their positions of authority he also advised they do not behave as they did. Matthew 23 shows us a Jesus who brings a warning against hypocrisy and the seven woes on the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees. “Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on the other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them”. (Matthew 23:1-4, NIV). Jesus goes on to speak of the Seven Woes on the teachers and Pharisees calling them hypocrites and blind guides. All of these teachings remind me of the religious right-wing Christian sects we have in America today. The teachings of Jesus reflect the ideas more conducive of a liberal snowflake today. When comparing some of the teachings of Jesus to that of America’s right-wing party Jesus is clearly a lefty. With regards to community Jesus said “Love your neighbor as yourself. Do unto others as you would have them do to you. If you would be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven” (Matthew 7, 22, 19 NIV). Jesus did not say love and accept only those you approve of or make you comfortable to be around. He did not say give to those who only help themselves. With regards to public prayer including prayer in schools and displays of faith Jesus said “When you pray, though shalt not be

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