Links to some of the things I've written – and some of the interviews I've done – about Jesus' confrontation with the Pharisees and the big shocking plot twist that follows.
I’ve now streamed a few more episodes. Comments on Episode 3:
(SPOILERS)
The Significance of Thomas gift to Ramah - a sundial? Wondering if that will show up later?
The Significance of Ramah’s (unheard) talk with Thomas - given that Ramah notices a pregnant woman, looks disturbed, and then tells Thomas she has something to say, I would guess it might involve Thomas’ need to be free from a family burden while following Jesus? Another “we shall see” I guess…
The bid one:
Jesus coming back to witness Ramah’s death without healing / resurrecting her - sensing what was happening, but stopping.
Apparently, the producers received a lot of blowback from Christians saying He would have healed her, but given my own experience, that seems rather shallow argument. Ive heard some of the producers counter arguments, e.g. all believing and faithful followers of Jesus have lost, or will lose, dearly loved people; resurrection is less common and more “drastic” (if that’s the right word) than healing.
But something I haven’t heard anyone mention was how this was death by a violent act of human will.
Are there any records in the Gospels of Jesus healing acts of violence? Or more pointedly, were there miracles where Jesus directly contravened the results of human will? Most healings are bodily disease, spiritual possessions, but not result of violent actions
The only 2 exceptions that come to mind are healing of priest’s servant which Peter cut ear off, which notably wasn’t fatal would, and, interestingly, the violent act was committed by Jesus’ own follower- so perhaps he felt some sense of “responsibility”? and of course Jesus’ own resurrection - which might be considered something beyond a simple “healing”. after all he still had his wounds, I.e. he wasn’t “healed” of them in that his flesh wasn’t “altered” in the way say a lame man or blind man or lepers would have been.
Perhaps I am missing other examples, but even in the OT the miracles didn’t seem to involved violent wounds.
On one of your points, I agree Jesus’ line about stirring up controversy - “this will be fun” - does indeed seem a bit flippant after you realize Ramah is killed because of the disturbance that results. So this seems out of place to me.
You've got me scratching my head now, wondering what other examples there might be in the Bible of people being healed of violent injuries (as opposed to diseases and the like).
Maybe when Paul raises Eutychus, the guy who died after falling out of a window (Acts 20:7-12)? That was "violence" of a sort, albeit accidental violence -- trauma to the body after falling from a great height -- and not person-to-person violence. (To use your term, there was no "human will" involved.)
Aside from that, nothing else is coming to mind right now. Hmmm.
I’ve now streamed a few more episodes. Comments on Episode 3:
(SPOILERS)
The Significance of Thomas gift to Ramah - a sundial? Wondering if that will show up later?
The Significance of Ramah’s (unheard) talk with Thomas - given that Ramah notices a pregnant woman, looks disturbed, and then tells Thomas she has something to say, I would guess it might involve Thomas’ need to be free from a family burden while following Jesus? Another “we shall see” I guess…
The bid one:
Jesus coming back to witness Ramah’s death without healing / resurrecting her - sensing what was happening, but stopping.
Apparently, the producers received a lot of blowback from Christians saying He would have healed her, but given my own experience, that seems rather shallow argument. Ive heard some of the producers counter arguments, e.g. all believing and faithful followers of Jesus have lost, or will lose, dearly loved people; resurrection is less common and more “drastic” (if that’s the right word) than healing.
But something I haven’t heard anyone mention was how this was death by a violent act of human will.
Are there any records in the Gospels of Jesus healing acts of violence? Or more pointedly, were there miracles where Jesus directly contravened the results of human will? Most healings are bodily disease, spiritual possessions, but not result of violent actions
The only 2 exceptions that come to mind are healing of priest’s servant which Peter cut ear off, which notably wasn’t fatal would, and, interestingly, the violent act was committed by Jesus’ own follower- so perhaps he felt some sense of “responsibility”? and of course Jesus’ own resurrection - which might be considered something beyond a simple “healing”. after all he still had his wounds, I.e. he wasn’t “healed” of them in that his flesh wasn’t “altered” in the way say a lame man or blind man or lepers would have been.
Perhaps I am missing other examples, but even in the OT the miracles didn’t seem to involved violent wounds.
On one of your points, I agree Jesus’ line about stirring up controversy - “this will be fun” - does indeed seem a bit flippant after you realize Ramah is killed because of the disturbance that results. So this seems out of place to me.
You've got me scratching my head now, wondering what other examples there might be in the Bible of people being healed of violent injuries (as opposed to diseases and the like).
Maybe when Paul raises Eutychus, the guy who died after falling out of a window (Acts 20:7-12)? That was "violence" of a sort, albeit accidental violence -- trauma to the body after falling from a great height -- and not person-to-person violence. (To use your term, there was no "human will" involved.)
Aside from that, nothing else is coming to mind right now. Hmmm.