Question about God's Plan v.s. Free Will

  • Thread starter Thread starter sodak
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
S

sodak

Guest
I have a friend who has told me that he thinks that Jesus wasn’t able to live long enough to teach us everything that we needed. Or, at least, be able to teach us more fully. He feels that the crucifixion was not part of God’s plan, but of mankind’s free will. But he still believes in the divinity of Jesus.

This is a viewpoint currently promulgated by some Christian faiths, but it sounds like heresy, I just can’t put my finger on it.

What do you think?
 
Hello, thank you for your question. 🙂

Your instinct is correct. Jesus’ death was prophesied long before His birth…and He Himself foresaw His death. Remember that he was rebuked by Peter for mentioning that he would soon die?
Isaiah prophesied His life and death…so to my bible and I’ll set about answering the best I can, since one of your friends so kindly alerted me to your question. 🙂

Trishie

Regarding question 2, about the assertion that Jesus did not live long enough to teach us fully…Jesus Himself replies to this question regarding His intention to send the Holy Spirit.

“I still have many things to say to you but they would be too much for you now. But when the Spirit comes He will lead you to the complete truth…All He tells you will be taken from what is mine.” “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and then you will be my witnesses not only in Jerusalem but indeed…to the ends of the earth.” [John 16:8-9, 12-13, 15]

“When the Advocate comes, whom I shall send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who issues from the Father, He will be my witness. And you too will be my witnesses.” [John 15: 26-27]

Before His ascension, Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore, make disciples of all the nations; baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all the commands I gave you. And know that I am with you always, yes even to the end of time.” [Matthew 28:17-20] As He spoke, “He was lifted up…and a cloud took Him from their sight.”
 
Hello, thank you for your question. 🙂

Your instinct is correct. Jesus’ death was prophesied long before His birth…and He Himself foresaw His death. Remember that he was rebuked by Peter for mentioning that he would soon die?
Isaiah prophesied His life and death…so to my bible and I’ll set about answering the best I can, since one of your friends so kindly alerted me to your question. 🙂

Trishie

Regarding question 2, about the assertion that Jesus did not live long enough to teach us fully…Jesus Himself replies to this question regarding His intention to send the Holy Spirit.

Jesus told His disciples,
“I still have many things to say to you
but they would be too much for you now.
But when the Spirit of truth comes
he will lead you to the complete truth,
since he will not be speaking as from himself
but will only say what he has learnt;
[John 16: 12-13]

"He will glorify me,
since all he tells you
will be taken from what is mine.
Everything the Father has is mine;
which is why I said:
All he tells you will be taken from what is mine John 16 14-15

It was part of God’s plan to send the Holy Spirit to lead us to the fullness of truth, as Jesus demonstrates by the above words.
 
I can go through Isaiah, giving various scriptures prophesying the birth, life and death of Jesus, but He was aware that His death was part of His mission to the world.
Still with St John’s gospel though other gospels also mention His awareness of His death

“Now the hour has come
for the Son of Man to be glorified.
I tell you most solemnly,
unless a wheat grain falls on the ground and dies,
it remains only a single grain;
but if it dies,
it yields a rich harvest.”

This function of Jesus’ life is foretold in Isaiah 53.

Jesus continues
“Now my soul is troubled.
What shall I say:
Father save me from this hour?
But it was for this very reason that I have come to this hour.
Father, glorify Your name.”

[John 12 verses 23-24, 27-28]

I’ll get back to this. My son just arrived.
Trishie
 
Jesus clearly knew even early in His public life, that His destiny was to die for the salvation of the world. Jesus knew He had to die, and why…to obtain salvation to souls throughout time.

From that time, Jesus began to make it clear to His disciples that he was destined to go to Jerusalem and suffer grieviously at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, to be put to death and to be raised up on the third day. Then taking him aside Peter started to remonstrate with him. “Heaven preserve you, Lord;” he said “this must not happen to you” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me satan! You are an obstacle in my path, because the way you think is not God’s way.” [Matthew 16:21-23] See also Matthew 17 22-23 . Mark 8:31-33, Mark 9:30-31,]
In Luke 22, verse 50, Jesus said “There is a baptism I must still receive, and how great is my distress till it is over”.

I can keep going. If you read St John’s gospel you’ll find other references Jesus made of His approaching death,
“I shall be with you for only a short time,
then I shall go back to the one who sent me.” [John 7:33]
“I am the Good Shepherd "
“I lay my life down for my sheep”
"I lay it down of my own free will,
and it is in my power to lay it down,
so it is in my power to take it up again;
this is the command I have been given by my Father.”
[John 10: 11,15,18] See John 17 also

You see therefore that Jesus is commissioned to die for us,
and that he does so freely.
It was no mistake. And His life wasn’t cut short against His will or the will of our Father in heaven. His death was part of God’s plan.
 
The prophesy of Jesus’ birth also appears in Isaiah in chapter 7, verse14, as well as those pertaining to His death. You will recognise Jesus in Isaiah 50 in verse 6-7, and in Isaiah 42, 1-4, for instance.
If you read the whole of Isaiah 53, you will see the unfolding of Jesus mission and death prophesied. It’s an extremely powerful text that deserves careful study.

Some verses from Isaiah 53,
“Yet ours were the sufferings he bore,
ours the sorrows he carried;
but we, we thought of him as someone punished,
struck by God and brought low.
Yet he was pierced through for our faults,
crushed for our sins.
On him lies a punishment that brings us peace,and through his wounds we are healed.” [Isaiah 53:4-5]

We had all gone astray like sheep,
each taking his own way,
and God burdened him
with the sins of us all.
Harshly dealt with, he bore it humbly." [Isaiah 53: 6]

I can quote it all but perhaps you would like to read it in your own bible

I hope that all helps.
Warm regards, Trishie
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top