Was Jesus' Death A Human Sacrifice?

After having considered the wrong conclusions reached in this gotquestions article in my blog article “Atheists on the Divinity of Jesus,” I think it is now time to consider the question in the article, “If God hates human sacrifice, how could Jesus’ sacrifice be the payment for our sins?”

It is true that God hates human sacrifice and the article from gotquestions.org was correct in using the scriptures in Deuteronomy and the Second of Kings in demonstrating that fact. But what it failed to do was demonstrate in what way Jesus dying for mankind was a sacrifice. First of all, it was neither the Father (God) that sacrificed his son, nor was it Jesus that somehow committed suicide, claiming to do it for God and for humankind (like in the case of “suicide or death by cop,” wherein Jesus somehow volunteered, demanded, to be put to death). The guilty parties for killing Jesus were the Romans and Jewish religious leaders. In fact, Peter squarely put the whole blame on the religious leaders. (By the way, no one amongst the Romans or Jews considered what they were doing as some form of human sacrifice. In their minds, they were exacting capital punishment on a criminal.)

But now comes the important detail of how God viewed Jesus death. As the links detail, Jehovah accepted Christ’s death as a sacrifice in the sense that it provided the necessary “ransom” to meet and fulfill the legal requirements set out in the Mosaic Law. Did God take pleasure in seeing Jesus tortured and put to death? Did Jesus get some sadistic pleasure from the pain of dying? No. (I know that some will cite Isaiah 53:10 that uses some poetic language that seems to imply that God did enjoy it, but that is a misinterpretation of the scripture.) By example, consider the illustration I made here about a father and son trying to save people from a sinking boat. Now, if the sea swallows up both the drowning people and the son that attempted to rescue them, would the father really be happy about that? No. But now, if the son was successful (which Jesus was by way of his loyalty even in the face of death), what a joy it was for everyone concerned. In that case, the father may actually exclaim to his son, “I’m so happy I allowed you to risk your life. It helped so many.” That is exactly the way that God was pleased to see his son maintain loyalty even though it meant being killed and temporarily dead until Jehovah resurrected him.

So Jesus’ death was a sacrifice in that he fulfilled the Law. This resulted in his Father, Jehovah God, extending the benefits of that death to all mankind.

About

Eternal Soul And Reincarnation

Concepts of eternal soul and reincarnation have been around for centuries. Recently I had a conversation with someone who attempted to bring these concepts into the scientific realm, arguing that the electrical impulses of the brain after death “have to go somewhere,” and where they go is off into the universe until such time as they come back as another being.

That struck me as completely bogus, but I needed a while to contemplate things before answering with something more than merely “shooting from the hip.” So I conducted some research on where electricity in the human body comes from. I did find several articles, but the easiest for most people to comprehend is probably this YouTube video. Although the video only addresses the biological, scientific, facts and makes no inference of the consequence, that is something that we need to do. Essentially, as the video demonstrates, electricity in the human body (and any living organism for that matter) is a chemically induced reaction. Logic would then dictate that ceasing such chemical reactions would result in death. The charges do not “go” anywhere. They just cease to be produced.

In fact, whether we are talking about what happens inside the body at the atomic level or we are talking about how lightning is produced, all of it involves friction and an exchange of positive & negative “charges” of some sort or another. Remove those variables and you do not have electricity.

But what does the Bible state about mankind in this respect? Regarding human life, here is a short list of what the Bible says:

1. The original man was formed from the ground (Genesis 2:7)
2. Man was animated (powered) by “the breath of life” from God (same scripture)
3. Once dead, nothing else remains of the individual (Genesis 3:19, Ec 3:19; 9:5)
4. His “spirit” (Hebrew for “breath”) returns to God in that God decides if and when a person is brought back to life (Ec.12:7)
5. Being given the promise of future life (as a human) through the resurrection (John 11:25)

So just as the YouTube video implies, once those charges cease to happen, the body dies. Or, as the Bible quite succinctly puts it, “dust we are and to dust we return.” Nothing in the Bible supports that we are anything more than creatures made from earth's substances. Except for the "breath of life," no "soul" (the essence of some spiritual, metaphysical existence) was infused in man and nothing of that sort is even eluded to in scripture. The soul is the person.

Supplemental: I won't pretend to understand the intricacies of Einstein's theory that energy can neither be created nor destroyed, but it does seem that theory has been over-generalized and misused to propose all sorts of metaphysical beliefs. However, the dissipation of energy from a dying human body seems akin to the power loss of most man-made batteries today. The electrical charge continues dropping until the unit ceases to produce a charge. The charge doesn't "go" anywhere (i.e. "off into the universe"). If anything, the heat the battery produces, especially in its struggling last moments, seems to be the "exchange" of energy from one form to another. The same goes for humans -- it is heat, not electrical energy, that rises from the dead body into the atmosphere around it. (See also "Conservation of Energy")

Article on death: http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1200001136

Article on resurrection: http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1001077254

Six days after my posting my blog article, the following article appeared March 16, 2017, in Popular Science (popsci.com): Some corps heat up.

About

Then Fades Away

Scripture has long waxed poetic about man’s short time on earth. I've mentioned this before, but since age 9, I’ve had to deal with serious health issues that have demonstrated to me just how fragile and short our existence can be. Between ages 9 and 16 I had multiple surgeries for some odd muscular disease. During those years, going to Children’s hospital in Los Angeles, I got to know other children, much sicker than I was. Surprisingly, they seemed to deal with it much better than I’ve subsequently seen adults deal with it. One particularly happy boy was in the hospital permanently. I remember when I was 16 going in for a checkup. It was memorable for me because I had just become a licensed driver and it was my first trip to the hospital by myself. I went up to the ward and asked to see the boy. The nurse bowed her head and started crying. He had died. This boy, who was on a specially designed gurney with large, wheelchair-like front wheels so he could be mobile (he had to be flat on his belly), had appointed himself a one-man greeting committee. He would wheel into other children’s rooms who were frightened and apprehensive and he would cheer them up. Now he was gone. I also started crying. But more than that, in a private prayer to God, I told him that if I lived just one day longer than that boy, I’d have nothing to complain about.

Since then (around 5 decades), I’ve lost close friends who died in their late 30s and early 40s. The latter, I had known since my late 20s when he was a teen. They both died with dignity, always unselfishly thinking of others and not focusing on themselves. In a conversation with my oncologist yesterday, I related the above experiences and told him that I am nothing but grateful to Jehovah that I’ve lived more than 6 decades. I’m actually blown away that I’ve lived this long. I told him I do not fear death because I understand what scripture says about it – that in God’s eyes, we are merely “sleeping” in death and to him it is no more effort than to call out to us to wake up (in the resurrection). The imagery I see here is a loving father walking into the bedroom of his dear child and gently rousing him. (Yes, yes, I'm well aware of the commanding voice scriptures speak of.)

It has been around a year since I’ve posted anything about my health. I felt an update would be good. Based on the continuing issues with leukemia, bladder cancer and bone marrow failure, the oncologist felt we are looking about another 12 months before things start going drastically south. My latest bout with pneumonia this past week (which seemed to come out of nowhere) is just one more indication my immune system is being challenged to keep this boat afloat. He wanted me to reiterate my wishes now that we are getting closer. I confirmed that I’d rather have some semblance of a useful life than to be repeatedly assaulted with intrusive treatments that knock me off my feet for weeks at a time. (And mind you, “some semblance of a useful life” is far from what is normal. It seems every day I wake up and have to accept a new, lesser form of normal.) I declined any further surgeries or chemo treatments. He agreed that at this point, attempting to treat the situations would be harder on my body than just letting things take their course. I told him that in my mind, there is a difference between preserving life and extending death. He asked, “Besides what you don’t want, is there anything you do want?” I asked only that I be made as comfortable as possible. He suggested hospice. I told him that it really is way too soon to make that decision.

Earlier this month I mentioned it had been several months since I had posted. I’ve noticed within the last week that I’ve had chronic migraines on a daily basis and it is getting increasingly difficult to commit my thoughts to writing. So I have no idea just how much I’ll be able to post in the upcoming months. It really is not a big worry to me. I started this blog only as a means to keep my mind active. I never expected to actually have others (I didn’t personally know) reading it. I chose the blog instead of a private diary because there were some specific thoughts I wanted to be able to share with friends by merely providing a link. But now, several years later, checking the Stats page, I’ve noticed my blog is being read by people in many parts of the world. Within the first day of being posted, any particular post will have  a couple dozen readers. I’m honored, even if it is only those who disagree with my scriptural viewpoints.

Dealing With Death of Loved One

I have written about dealing with the death of loved one before. Just one more brief observation:

It is not my intent to discourage grieving. It is a very natural reaction. However, it can also be a bit self-destructive in that it becomes a spiraling downward emotion. The realization that there is nothing we can do to bring back the one we miss can lead to despair.

In my own experience, I have discovered that the following helps to calm my heart: In prayer to God, thank him for wonderful joy of having had that person in your life. In that prayer, recall specific traits about that person that encouraged you, that gave you joy, that made you laugh, that made you feel warm inside. Thank God for the all the time you had with that person, whether it was just a short time or a few decades. Finally, thank God for the hope of the resurrection -- the hope that you will see that person again someday when God’s Kingdom finally takes over the earth again.

After my having done the above, I experience a contentment and gratitude to God for the hope he has set before us.

Death History and Future Hope

Nowadays, it seems that not only every religion, but “everybody and his brother” has their opinion what happens at death. There are those that swear they have proof of “the afterlife” because they’ve had out-of-body experiences. If they had given it deeper thought, they’d realize that our brain, like the rest of our body, is organic material. The brain, where our thought processes (our “mind”) reside, is a vast neurological network that thrives on oxygen.  When it is deprived of blood and oxygen, it starts to malfunction (vivid dreams and/or hallucinations). It is not possible for the brain to be out-of-body and therefore it is impossible for our cognitive powers (again, our “mind”) to be out-of-body because they reside only in the brain that is still in our skull.

In my experience, the only explanation I have ever heard that made intelligent sense is what the Bible says happens at death. Adam was formed from organic material. He was reminded that: "Dust you are and to dust you will return" if he was disloyal. There was no indication that he would live on in any other form. Simply, he would cease to exist, returning to the elements from which he was formed.

Surprisingly, “old age” death was not the first recorded incident of death in the Bible. It was death by murder. The moral fiber of mankind went south a lot faster than his physical being. Regarding this, Paul wrote through one man (Adam) sin entered the world and death through sin. Thus all men die. Today, no one can rightly claim they are without imperfection. But regarding this inherited and aptly-named “Adamic sin and death,” why should we pay for it indefinitely? That is a good question.

Our Creator recognized that it was not fair what Adam did to us. Why should we, like Adam, die forever? If that were the case, there would be no reason to worship God. No reason to try to appease God. No reason for religion. No reason to even try to live a good life. Yet God, through his Word the Bible, reached out to mankind and does give them hope. Hence we read in John 17:3 that taking in a knowledge of God can mean our everlasting life, thus supplying us hope to extend our lives far beyond what we have today.

So what is the sequence of things that happened after a person dies? Psalm 146:4 confirms what I stated at the beginning of this article—namely when the breath of life (our “spirit”) goes out of us, we cease to exist—we have no more thoughts. Just like Adam, we go back to dust and are nonexistent. However, unlike Adam, it is not necessarily a permanent condition. One of Lazarus’ sisters said she believed that her dead brother would rise in the last day. To demonstrate what God intends to do for mankind in the future, Jesus immediately raised Lazarus back to life—on earth. Scripture also confirms that there was going to be a future resurrection of the righteous and the unrighteous.

But do you think it is ludicrous to believe that mankind can live forever? What then do you think would be the case in heaven? Just because you'd be a non-physical being, a spirit of a sort, do you readily accept that they would live forever? Our Creator has more than enough power-to-spare to maintain the life of both spirit and physical intelligent, obedient creation.

So where does the bulk of Christendom get there belief about going to heaven? They get it by focusing on just a few scriptures and not paying attention to the bulk of the Bible and God’s general purpose for mankind. There are indeed some going to heaven but for a very specific purpose. The rest of us have the opportunity of dwelling on cleansed, restored, peaceful earth as our Creator originally intended. So while currently those dying cease to exist, sometime in the unknown future, those now dead will come back to life on earth.

(I am aware that some feel that the essence of our cognitive self actually resides in something they call the “soul.” Two of the previously mentioned scriptures demonstrate that the Bible does not teach that man has a soul but rather that he is a soul—a living person.)

More information: http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1102005137

I Am Not Worried About Dying

Index of Blog Articles

In the last two years I've had several kind-hearted people reach out to me because of a post I made on Amazon. The post was about some homeopathic herbs I had bought. These herbs claimed to be good for leukemia patients. Most of those writing me had other recommendations to make. All sincerely expressed encouragement and condolence. Recently, a gentleman reached out to me pointing me to yet another unconventional treatment. Here, in part, is some of the reply I made:

I want to make sure that I convey my deep appreciation for your thinking of me enough to write me. At present, the doctor feels my situation is progressing as expected. Because of my deep faith based on decades of study, I am not worried. When I was a child with a muscular disease, I saw many other children with rare and more critical situations than mine actually dying. At a very young age I determined that if I lived just one day more than they did, I'd be grateful. In truth, I have lived 5 decades longer than those that died in their first decade of life. (I'm now in my 60's)

For the "here and now," even though I've endured many health, financial and general life setbacks, I don't view myself as having been denied a relatively good life. While working for AT&T, I got to travel the world, meet many people (which to me is the 2nd best part of life), come to understand God and the Bible more than most people (the numero uno best part), have a brain that loves drinking in knowledge (I read a lot about technology, the sciences, and of course the Bible).

So while so many kind-hearted people have expressed authentic concern, I'm not worried. As far as I'm concerned, I've lived much more than my life expectancy. If I were to die tomorrow, which I don't plan on, I would not have any regrets. I wouldn't be whining, "I wish I had done this or that."

Then, finally, there is the hope of being brought back to life on earth, but without all the problems plaguing us today as promised here.

I have been offering those that reach out to me, to answer any questions they have about God or the Bible. Questions for which they may never have found an answer. Now, I don't claim to be a genius, and I readily admit my brain is slowing down, but I know how to research. So if it takes me a few days, you can still be sure I will answer your question. I want nothing in return except to help you and others find the peace I have found. Again, I'm not talking about some emotion-filled feeling. I'm talking about using the brain our Creator gave us to understand just how sensible his ways are.

Besides the online references, I have a collection of some 18 Bible translations and a few Hebrew and Greek language reference books. Feel free to contact me.

Index of Blog Articles

Resurrection Hope -- Real Comfort For The Grieving

I believe in the resurrection. Not the one that my former Catholic religion taught. Not the one that many people in most Protestant religions believe in. I believe in the one that Bible quite clearly relates. At least four specific instances are related of people who died and were brought back to life—on earth. Perhaps one of the most notable is the one where Jesus resurrected his friend Lazarus. The details of that account make it plain that Lazarus was dead for about four days. His relatives thought the situation was hopeless and commented that Lazarus’ body was surely already decaying (they mentioned the stench of the dead body). Yet Jesus brought Lazarus back to life. He was whole in body and sound in mind.

During a conversation Jesus had with one of Lazarus’ sisters, prior to Jesus performing the resurrection, she mentioned that she knew that the then existing scriptures (the Hebrew writings) taught that there would be a resurrection back to human life. (No concept of life in another form or another world or another dimension was even alluded to in the scriptures the Jews (Israelites, Hebrews) used in that day.) In agreement with this belief and in confirmation of it, Jesus brought her brother back to life on earth. The difference in the resurrection to come is that death will be completely eliminated. There is not going to be some endless cycle of resurrection and death. (Revelation 21:4)

Having this conviction, I am actually offended to read on the web various teachings that try to make death a friend and not the enemy the Bible says it is. – 1 Corinthians 15:26 In reading some of those sites, they attempt to “comfort” mourners with what amounts to nothing but philosophical human lies. So what comfort can be extended to someone who believes what the Bible says about death and resurrection?

I have actually had several friends who have lost family and friends to death. I myself have lost several loved ones, which is what prompted me to reflect on what would have truly comforted me. I came up with the following:

Remember The Hope: When we trust that Jehovah keeps his servants in mind and never forgets, even passed their death and over the void of time, we can be encouraged that our dead loved-one is not gone and forgotten for all time. Even if our memory starts to fade, God's does not fade and when that person is resurrected, we will readily recognize them.

Write Your Memories: When you lose a loved one in death, sit down and write a list of what you appreciated about that person--be specific, write as many details as you can remember, all your fond memories.  Put that list in your wallet, taking it out and reviewing it from time to time. Over time you may find that you are adding even more to the list.

On occasions when you decide to review that list, do so while in prayer to Jehovah and thanks to him for those memories and wonderful traits your loved one had. Express to God how much you appreciate the ransom of his dear son, Jesus, paid in sacrificing his life so that we can even have a hope of seeing our loved ones alive again. Tell Jehovah you are looking forward to seeing that person because of everything you've written in your notes. In that way, like Jehovah, you are keeping the positive and encouraging memory of that loved one alive.

Write Events: Another positive action you can take is to keep a log of all the things that happened after your loved one died. These are things that you want to tell that person after they are resurrected.  True, you may not actually ever review that with the resurrected one, but the point is you are keeping the positive memory alive and taking positive action to make the memory a good thing instead of falling into despair and bottomless (negative) sorrow.

The benefit that both of these writing exercises is that instead of feeling helpless and that there is "nothing you can do," now you feel you are doing something that will eventually work to a happy reunion. It also keeps us motivated to be loyal to God so we can be in the new world when our loved one is resurrected.

Accept Your Grieving Process, It Is Normal: Finally, remember that there is nothing wrong with grieving. Sadness over a loss is very normal and natural. There will even be times when reviewing the notes mentioned above, that you will probably break down and cry. But even in those saddest of times, always remember that our enemy, death, will be done away with. In the meantime, allow yourself to grieve and motivate yourself to turn it into a positive memory.

Index of Blog Articles