{"id":5003,"date":"2015-05-10T04:13:05","date_gmt":"2015-05-09T22:13:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/intelligent-torvalds.74-208-171-134.plesk.page\/?p=5003"},"modified":"2018-05-27T21:04:39","modified_gmt":"2018-05-27T15:04:39","slug":"jesus-the-leg-breaker-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/?p=5003","title":{"rendered":"Jesus the Leg-breaker, Part 1"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cJesus the leg-breaker\u201d is a more persistent tale than I expected.\u00a0 I decided not to give it short shrift.<\/p>\n

I am the <\/em>beautiful<\/a> shepherd<\/em>,[1]<\/sup><\/a> Jesus said.\u00a0 Did He mean to turn my attention to Him or to human shepherds?\u00a0 Do I know Him through the Bible?\u00a0 Or should I study shepherd lore and apply it to Him? \u00a0In a blog titled \u201cThe Good Shepherd Breaks Their Legs<\/a>,\u201d Pastor Robin Weinstein quoted the following story from another blog:<\/p>\n

According to the story, if a lamb has a tendency to wander off, the shepherd will actually break one of its legs. He then tends the broken leg \u2013 puts a splint on it and binds it up. Then while the leg is mending, he carries it on his shoulder. According to the anecdote, once the sheep heals, it will follow the shepherd, close at his side, the rest of its life. Never again go astray [because now it knows the voice and guidance of its shepherd].<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cBut, this story is not in the Bible, you say,\u201d was the apparently grudging admission, followed by a Bible verse \u201cthat runs parallel\u201d to the story.<\/p>\n

How enviable is the man whom God corrects. Oh, do not despise the chastening of the Lord when you sin. For though he wounds, he binds and heals once again.\u00a0<\/strong>Job 5:17,18<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The reasoning here goes something like this: The word of God is true.\u00a0 The Bible is the word of God.\u00a0 Job 5:17 and 18 are in the Bible, so they are true and the word of God.\u00a0 It is a compelling argument and does seem to correspond to the shepherd story.\u00a0 But in the book of Job in the Bible these words are not the word of ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h<\/em>:\u00a0 \u201cHow enviable is the man whom God corrects. \u00a0Oh, do not despise the chastening of the Lord when you sin. \u00a0For though he wounds, he binds and heals once again,\u201d are the words of Eliphaz the Temanite<\/a>.\u00a0 In the book of Job ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h<\/em> spoke the following to Eliphaz the Temanite about Eliphaz\u2019s words (Job 42:7 NET).<\/p>\n

After the Lord (<\/em>ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h<\/a>)<\/em> had spoken (<\/em>d\u00e2bar<\/a>,\u00a0\u05d3\u05d1\u05e8; Septuagint: \u03bb\u03b1\u03bb\u1fc6\u03c3\u03b1\u03b9<\/a>)<\/em> these things to Job, he (<\/em>ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h [added again for emphasis, I assume])<\/em> said to Eliphaz the Temanite, \u201cMy anger is stirred up against you and your two friends, because you have not spoken (<\/em>d\u00e2bar, \u00a0\u05d3\u05d1\u05e8\u05ea\u05dd; Septuagint: \u1f10\u03bb\u03b1\u03bb\u1f75\u03c3\u03b1\u03c4\u03b5<\/a>)<\/em> about me what is right, as my servant Job has.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

<\/a>On my way back from atheism, as I essentially rejected the Gospel thinking of it as a second chance to do righteousness by obeying the Bible as rules, I met a man who wanted to produce the book of Job as a play.\u00a0 I don\u2019t remember now if he asked me to set it to music or if I had the competing idea to write it as an opera.\u00a0 As I studied, intending to make the book of Job the libretto for an opera, I was perplexed by what fault God found with the words of Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I could see that their empathy for Job might have been off a bit, but their words seemed more or less like the religious teaching I had heard my whole life.\u00a0 Wishing that ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h<\/em> had been more specific, I abandoned the project.\u00a0 Even now, given this lack of specificity, I am not wise enough to quote anything Eliphaz said as proof of anything in the light of ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h\u2019s<\/em> anger (Job 42:8 NET):<\/p>\n

So now take seven bulls and seven rams [<\/em>ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h, speaking to Eliphaz, continued]<\/em> and go to my servant Job and offer a burnt offering for yourselves.\u00a0 And my servant Job will intercede for you, and I will respect him, so that I do not deal with you according to your folly, because you have not spoken (<\/em>d\u00e2bar, \u00a0\u05d3\u05d1\u05e8\u05ea\u05dd; Septuagint: \u1f10\u03bb\u03b1\u03bb\u1f75\u03c3\u03b1\u03c4\u03b5)<\/em> about me what is right, as my servant Job has.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cGod will chasten and correct us,\u201d the writer of the original blog continued.\u00a0 So far, so good: For whom the Lord loves He chastens <\/em>(\u03c0\u03b1\u03b9\u03b4\u03b5\u1f7b\u03b5\u03b9, a form of \u03c0\u03b1\u03b9\u03b4\u03b5\u03cd\u03c9<\/a>), And scourges <\/em>(\u03bc\u03b1\u03c3\u03c4\u03b9\u03b3\u03bf\u1fd6, a form of \u03bc\u03b1\u03c3\u03c4\u03b9\u03b3\u03cc\u03c9<\/a>) every son whom He receives<\/em>.[2]<\/sup><\/a> \u00a0But the writer of the original blog added, \u201cif we stray.\u201d\u00a0 And that is probably the reason he quoted Eliphaz the Temanite from the book of Job rather than the writer of the book of Hebrews.\u00a0 The writer of the book of Hebrews wasn\u2019t writing to those who strayed but to those who were tempted to stray because of the opposition<\/a><\/em> or contradiction<\/a><\/em>, the \u1f00\u03bd\u03c4\u03b9\u03bb\u03bf\u03b3\u1f77\u03b1\u03bd (a form of \u1f00\u03bd\u03c4\u03b9\u03bb\u03bf\u03b3\u03af\u03b1<\/a>; literally, \u201cto speak against\u201d) of sinners that they encountered while trusting Christ (Hebrews 12:5-7a NET):<\/p>\n

And have you forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons?\u00a0 \u201cMy son<\/strong>, do not scorn the Lord\u2019s discipline <\/strong>(\u03c0\u03b1\u03b9\u03b4\u03b5\u1f77\u03b1\u03c2, a form of \u03c0\u03b1\u03b9\u03b4\u03b5\u03af\u03b1<\/a>)<\/em> or give up when he corrects<\/strong> you<\/strong>.\u00a0 \u201cFor the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son he accepts<\/strong>.\u201d \u00a0Endure your suffering as discipline (\u03c0\u03b1\u03b9\u03b4\u03b5\u1f77\u03b1\u03bd, a form of \u03c0\u03b1\u03b9\u03b4\u03b5\u03af\u03b1) \u2026<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The faithful, as opposed to those who stray, are called to endure the \u1f00\u03bd\u03c4\u03b9\u03bb\u03bf\u03b3\u1f77\u03b1\u03bd of sinners as God\u2019s \u03c0\u03b1\u03b9\u03b4\u03b5\u1f77\u03b1\u03bd (a form of \u03c0\u03b1\u03b9\u03b4\u03b5\u03af\u03b1).\u00a0 Currently in the U.S. this \u1f00\u03bd\u03c4\u03b9\u03bb\u03bf\u03b3\u1f77\u03b1\u03bd is mostly ridicule and rarely \u03bc\u03b1\u03c3\u03c4\u03b9\u03b3\u03cc\u03c9 as was common in the first century (and beyond).\u00a0 But it is fairly clear that the faithful should perceive and receive the \u1f00\u03bd\u03c4\u03b9\u03bb\u03bf\u03b3\u1f77\u03b1\u03bd of sinners in whatever form as \u03c0\u03b1\u03b9\u03b4\u03b5\u1f77\u03b1\u03bd from God (Hebrews 12:7b, 8 NET):<\/p>\n

God is treating you as sons.\u00a0 For what son is there that a father does not discipline (\u03c0\u03b1\u03b9\u03b4\u03b5\u1f7b\u03b5\u03b9, a form of \u03c0\u03b1\u03b9\u03b4\u03b5\u03cd\u03c9)<\/em>? \u00a0But if you do not experience discipline (\u03c0\u03b1\u03b9\u03b4\u03b5\u1f77\u03b1\u03c2, another form of \u03c0\u03b1\u03b9\u03b4\u03b5\u03af\u03b1)<\/em>, something all sons have shared in, then you are illegitimate and are not sons.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

A comparison and contrast follow between earthly fathers<\/em> and the Father of spirits<\/em> which might be confusing if not treated carefully:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Comparison<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Contrast<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Besides, we have experienced discipline (\u03c0\u03b1\u03b9\u03b4\u03b5\u03c5\u03c4\u1f70\u03c2, a form of \u03c0\u03b1\u03b9\u03b4\u03b5\u03c5\u03c4\u03ae\u03c2<\/a>) from our earthly fathers and we respected them; shall we not submit ourselves all the more to the Father of spirits and receive life?<\/p>\n

Hebrews 12:9 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

For they [earthly fathers] disciplined (\u1f10\u03c0\u03b1\u1f77\u03b4\u03b5\u03c5\u03bf\u03bd, another form of \u03c0\u03b1\u03b9\u03b4\u03b5\u03cd\u03c9) us for a little while as seemed good to them, but he [the Father of spirits] does so for our benefit, that we may share his holiness.<\/p>\n

Hebrews 12:10 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

If the \u03c0\u03b1\u03b9\u03b4\u03b5\u03af\u03b1 of one\u2019s father consisted mostly of punishment for doing wrong it is easy to mistake punishment for the Father of spirits\u2019<\/em> \u03c0\u03b1\u03b9\u03b4\u03b5\u03af\u03b1.\u00a0 But the \u03c0\u03b1\u03b9\u03b4\u03b5\u03af\u03b1 of the Father of spirits<\/em> comes at the mouth (and possibly at the hands) of sinners for doing right rather than wrong. \u00a0The writer of the book of Hebrews continued (Hebrews 12:11-13 NET):<\/p>\n

Now all discipline (\u03c0\u03b1\u03b9\u03b4\u03b5\u1f77\u03b1) [whether for doing wrong or for doing right]<\/em> seems painful at the time, not joyful. But later it [the \u03c0\u03b1\u03b9\u03b4\u03b5\u1f77\u03b1 from the Father of spirits for doing right]<\/em> produces the fruit of peace and righteousness for those trained by it. \u00a0Therefore, strengthen<\/strong> your listless hands and your weak knees<\/strong>, and make straight paths for your feet<\/strong>, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but be healed.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This is the experience of the faithful, not the unfaithful, and not a word about breaking legs.\u00a0 But Deacon Del Gibbs, the original blogger, wrote<\/a>:<\/p>\n

God will chasten and correct us if we stray. You say yep, I could write the book? Been there, done that?\u00a0 But it is for our good. And trust me, the pain is better than the alternative \u2013 becoming lamb chops on Satan\u2019s dinner table.\u00a0<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Is this his personal experience of Jesus?<\/p>\n

No.\u00a0 He never strayed.\u00a0 \u201cYou see,\u201d he wrote<\/a>, \u201cI had not been saved out of sin but God saved me from going into it.\u201d\u00a0 In Romans 1 people who did not glorify<\/em>\u2026God or give him thanks<\/em>, who exchanged the glory of the immortal God for an image resembling mortal human beings or birds or four-footed animals or reptiles<\/em>, were given over by God in the desires of their hearts to impurity, to dishonor their bodies among themselves<\/em>.[3]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 The implication here is that apart from this God would keep them from this sin.<\/p>\n

People who exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creation rather than the Creator<\/em>, were given over by God to dishonorable passions<\/em>.[4]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 Again the implication is that apart from this God would keep them from this sin.\u00a0 Likewise people who did not see fit to acknowledge God<\/em>, were given over by God to a depraved mind, to do what should not be done<\/em>.[5]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 Once again the implication is that apart from this God would keep them from these sins. \u00a0Mr. Gibbs continued:<\/p>\n

I can testify of God\u2019s strength that helps me live victoriously.\u00a0 Of his patience and forgiveness for the times I\u2019m slow to catch on.\u00a0 And when I stub my toe and fall on my face, I can tell how He reaches out and helps me to my feet once again.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

That sounds so much better to me as something to say to one who has strayed than threats about Jesus the leg-breaker.\u00a0 You see, I have strayed.\u00a0 You might say I went looking for the smiting, leg-breaking Jesus I was taught about, at least I dared Him to act.\u00a0 And I became an atheist when He refused to live up to his bad press.<\/p>\n

The good thing about becoming an atheist, however, is that I couldn\u2019t blame God for my problems any more.\u00a0 They were definitely my problems, brought about by the sins that I thought were my freedom, even my right, the very things Paul called the wrath of God<\/em>\u2026revealed from heaven<\/em>,[6]<\/sup><\/a> the things I couldn\u2019t quit even after I began to want to quit them.<\/p>\n

The kicker here is that Mr. Gibbs\u2019 father, raised on a sheep ranch in Montana, couldn\u2019t even confirm the alleged shepherd lore: \u201cMy Dad says he didn\u2019t do it,\u201d his blog post began.\u00a0 \u201cHe just got out the 22, and that night they had mutton stew.\u201d\u00a0 The reasoning here goes something like this: Jesus the leg-breaker would be better than Del\u2019s father the killer and eater.<\/p>\n

But that unmasks the whole thing, doesn\u2019t it?\u00a0 Why does a human shepherd care for the flock at all?\u00a0 Is it not so the flock is available to be fleeced, milked and eaten?\u00a0 Is that what Jesus meant when He called Himself the beautiful shepherd?\u00a0 Is this, too, part of the shepherd lore I should apply to Him?\u00a0 Jesus said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Matthew<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Luke<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

What do you think? \u00a0If someone owns a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go look for the one that went astray?<\/p>\n

Matthew 18:12 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

So Jesus told them this parable: \u201cWhich one of you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go look for the one that is lost until he finds it?<\/p>\n

Luke 15:3, 4 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Frankly, I think I might write-off the one who strayed rather than risk the others.\u00a0 But then, I\u2019m not a shepherd.\u00a0 I don\u2019t really know the value of a sheep. \u00a0(And\u00a0 I\u2019m not omnipresent.) \u00a0So I must take Jesus at his word here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Matthew<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Luke<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Matthew 18:13 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\u201cThen when he has found it, he places it on his shoulders, rejoicing. \u00a0Returning home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, telling them, \u2018Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost.\u2019<\/p>\n

Luke 15:5, 6 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Again, I have no direct way to corroborate this, but must take Jesus at his word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Matthew<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Luke<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that one of these little ones be lost.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Matthew 18:14 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\u201cI tell you, in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need to repent.\u201d<\/p>\n

Luke 15:7 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

This is clearly beyond my experience.\u00a0\u00a0 I haven\u2019t amounted to much, nothing that would cause anyone to say, \u201cAh, I understand why Jesus went out of his way to save him.\u201d\u00a0 But He did.\u00a0 As far as I\u2019m concerned, the only plausible explanation is to take Jesus at his word: your Father in heaven is not willing <\/em>(\u03b8\u1f73\u03bb\u03b7\u03bc\u03b1<\/a>) that one of these little ones be lost<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\n
Back to Cobwebs<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

<\/a>[1]<\/sup> John 10:11 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[2]<\/sup> Hebrews 12:6 (KJV, DNT)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[3]<\/sup> Romans 1:21-24 (NET)<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[4]<\/sup> Romans 1:25, 26a (NET)<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[5]<\/sup> Romans 1:28 (NET)<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[6]<\/sup> Romans 1:18a (NET)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cJesus the leg-breaker\u201d is a more persistent tale than I expected.\u00a0 I decided not to give it short shrift. I am the beautiful shepherd,[1] Jesus said.\u00a0 Did He mean to turn my attention to Him or to human shepherds?\u00a0 Do … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2719],"tags":[2809,2810,2806,2805,2807,2808,2803,2804,2802,1167,2811,2813,2814,2512,2812,2590],"class_list":["post-5003","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-section-three","tag-hebrews-1210","tag-hebrews-1211-13","tag-hebrews-125-7","tag-hebrews-126","tag-hebrews-127-8","tag-hebrews-129","tag-job-427","tag-job-428","tag-job-517-18","tag-john-1011","tag-luke-153-4","tag-luke-155-6","tag-luke-157","tag-matthew-1812","tag-matthew-1813","tag-matthew-1814"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5003","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5003"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5003\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9854,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5003\/revisions\/9854"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5003"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5003"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5003"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}