We have noted several things which can serve as explanations for the similarity of ‘savior myths’ to the genuine story of Christ. We have mentioned coincedence, which cannot explain everything. Those Christians who would solely rely on this explanation are hypocritical in their theology. Think about it, don’t we often point to probability as proof of creation or the Messianic prophecy? If we are to be consistent in our methods, we must admit that something greater than pure chance is at work.
We have also pointed out that there is the possibility that a number of cultures were influenced by the Jewish culture. Again, we must also be honest that this explanation only goes so far, not being able to affect those cultures who had developed their myths prior to interaction with the Jewish nation, or in parts of the world to far from Israel. How then do we explain these things?
It takes a brave person to consider something that runs against an accepted theological statement, but I will offer an explanation. I do not know how many I times I have heard, and even repeated myself, that ‘Satan did not know that Jesus was supposed to die.’ This is a doctrine not born of the bible, as far as I can tell. I have found no scripture mentioning that Satan was ignorant of the plan of God. It is a thought that is derived from human logic, and fanciful ideas. We like to see the bad person defeated by their own doing, so Satan comes up with the plan to kill Jesus, not knowing it is the death that defeats himself. The problem with the common thought is that for this view we must project our weakness onto Satan. That is, we must pretend that Satan has the same inability to decipher prophetic statements and imagery as we, not to mention ignoring obvious statements that Jesus made.
1) It explains the numerous prior attempts on Jesus life. If Satan knew the plan of a crucifixion, he could defeat the plan through a ‘preemptive strike’
2) It possibly explains the temptation in the wilderness to give all the nations to Jesus (Matthew 4). If Satan was referring to the people, rather than the physical kingdoms, it might have been a temptation to Jesus to worship Satan in return for Satan surrendering his hold over the gentile world, and more specifically, a temptation to convince Jesus not to draw all men to Himself through the process of crucifixion.
Satan is described as the one who ‘deceives all of the nations’ (Rev 12:9). at some point he was cast out of heaven. The exact moment is the subject of much debate, but immaterial for our purposes. Consider the statement of the crucifixion plan:
“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world…” I Pe 1:18-20
We have also pointed out that there is the possibility that a number of cultures were influenced by the Jewish culture. Again, we must also be honest that this explanation only goes so far, not being able to affect those cultures who had developed their myths prior to interaction with the Jewish nation, or in parts of the world to far from Israel. How then do we explain these things?
It takes a brave person to consider something that runs against an accepted theological statement, but I will offer an explanation. I do not know how many I times I have heard, and even repeated myself, that ‘Satan did not know that Jesus was supposed to die.’ This is a doctrine not born of the bible, as far as I can tell. I have found no scripture mentioning that Satan was ignorant of the plan of God. It is a thought that is derived from human logic, and fanciful ideas. We like to see the bad person defeated by their own doing, so Satan comes up with the plan to kill Jesus, not knowing it is the death that defeats himself. The problem with the common thought is that for this view we must project our weakness onto Satan. That is, we must pretend that Satan has the same inability to decipher prophetic statements and imagery as we, not to mention ignoring obvious statements that Jesus made.
1) It explains the numerous prior attempts on Jesus life. If Satan knew the plan of a crucifixion, he could defeat the plan through a ‘preemptive strike’
2) It possibly explains the temptation in the wilderness to give all the nations to Jesus (Matthew 4). If Satan was referring to the people, rather than the physical kingdoms, it might have been a temptation to Jesus to worship Satan in return for Satan surrendering his hold over the gentile world, and more specifically, a temptation to convince Jesus not to draw all men to Himself through the process of crucifixion.
Satan is described as the one who ‘deceives all of the nations’ (Rev 12:9). at some point he was cast out of heaven. The exact moment is the subject of much debate, but immaterial for our purposes. Consider the statement of the crucifixion plan:
“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world…” I Pe 1:18-20
Satan and his demons quite possibly knew the plan. If they did, it would explain how some of these details found their way into numerous myths - so that people would have an innoculation to the truth when it finally appeared in true form, and so that critics of Christianity would be able to use this argument to shake the faith of believers
Of course, this leaves other questions such as ‘Satan entering Judas’, but we will save that discussion for another day.
Of course, this leaves other questions such as ‘Satan entering Judas’, but we will save that discussion for another day.
1 comment:
Satan seems to know scripture very well, and had know trouble recognizing Jesus right away. He definitaly knew more than the religious leaders.
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