Luke Repeats Jesus' Final Words

As Jesus keeps speaking I've found many similarities between him, Lao Zu, Krishna and Confucius. All of these men can be called teachers. They all had the same purpose in the sense that they all taught somebody at some point. Each had their own particular way of relating to others and they all had very different conceptions of the world. I believe that the real issue here is not who's wrong and who's right but how each of them did what they did. What is specially particular about Jesus is that although he did have some trouble spreading his word, he did it by traveling and getting to meet as many people as he could. As oppose to the other men who instead, shared what they thought without necessarily putting it into practice. This is what I like about Jesus. Out of all the characters we've seen in the Bible so far, Jesus is probably the one I've liked the most. He is practical and I relate to some things he does although I disagree with most of them.

For example, when he "heals" everybody its as if he can do anything he wants. Don't get me wrong, he should be able to do it as freely as he wants. What I don't like about it though is the way he does it. He keeps saying that "faith" is what "heals" people and maybe it is, but it all depends on everyone's personal perception on faith. To me, faith is being positive and having trust in what is coming next, but what about those who think differently from me? Some may think that faith is relying on what has happened before and expecting only good things to come, when they don't its like the world is falling apart. Others might think that faith has more to do with what God expects of you than doing what you actually think is right for you. As I have said previously, no one can rely on just black or white, people should expect different shades of gray. This is the basis of my disagreement with Jesus, yet I do love the fact that he was there for the people and tried to heal as many as he could. This reminds me of Mother Theresa, I can see where she got her inspiration.

Most of what Luke keeps talking about are Jesus' miracles and all the things he did for the people. In chapter 21, something similar comes up, only this time I think that what Luke is telling us, is about the first mass, "37And in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives. 38 And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him." (Luke 21) This is definitely more interesting because people came to listen to what Jesus had to say. I find it very interesting how the story continues because it's like Jesus became a celebrity.

The last supper is probably the most emotional the Bible or anything we've read has been up to now. "19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it,and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. 20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you." (Luke 22) Anyone who says things like these must have one out of two of these: either a very high ego or an immense love for all those around. I'm betting Jesus is more like the second option. I've seen interpretations of the last supper by artists such as Da Vinci and they all seem very melancholic. However, what I felt while I was reading this was suspense rather than sadness or pity. I couldn't wait to see what all the other apostles would say once they found out who the actual traitor was. And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing." (Luke 22:23)

If it weren't for the priests and the captains offering Judas money, Judas wouldn't have any problems with Jesus, but I think that betraying Jesus or not, Judas would be the same anyways, and at some point this would become evident. It is said the Satan "entered" Judas, what I really think is that Satan wasn't inside of Judas, he was inside of the captains who wanted to kill Jesus. If Satan, was indeed inside the captains, why didn't God stop them? Why didn't God protect Jesus by making sure Judas wasn't a traitor? I've asked myself these questions before and it seems to me that I'm finally getting answers.

"And his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground."(Luke 44:22)This caught my attention because its a simile. The first simile I've seen so far. Maybe I'm not being as observant but I thought that similes were something more modern, not something used in the Bible. I guess I was wrong. This is however, a powerful simile. Not everyone gets to feel drops of sweat as if they were "drops of blood". It gives you the idea of what it must be like to be living such an uncertainty and being under such a terrible situation. This is one of the things I admire about Jesus, if I were him and I was going through what he was, I could have never sat down to pray. This to me seems almost as if giving up and accepting one's fate. However, there wasn't much he could do anyways so this seems to me as one of the saddest ways to say good-bye.

When it becomes Peter's turn to say good-bye it felt like such a sad farewell for the both of them. Peter, who was loyal and obviously loved Jesus had to "deny him thrice". "58 And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. 59 And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellowalso was with him: for he is a Galilaean. 60 And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. 61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. 62 And Peter went out, and wept bitterly" (Luke 22) Being a friend and being part of a family I understand what Peter is going through and it just makes me sad. The entire scene is so depressed and sorrowful that it makes me miss God's interventions. God always steps in at the right moments, just before Abraham kills Isaac, and just before Job can;t take it any longer. What happened to God today? I can't believe the bonds between these two. It must have been just as hard for Jesus to say those words to Peter as it was for Peter to follow them. I recently watched a movie in which a similar idea is debated. In My Sister's Keeper, a girl with leukemia asks her younger sister who is about to give her a kidney not to do it because she wants to die. In the end, the one with cancer does die, but she had no other option. Although the little sister had to make this hard decision to let her sister die, she knew it was what would make her happy. In this case, Jesus has no other option, and Peter has nothing left to do but follow what Jesus asked him to.

At last, Jesus is crucifixed. I couldn't believe the ridiculousness of the trial."And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King." (Luke 2:23) Just his accusations are so foolish and ignorant. I was actually proud of Jesus when he says, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." (Luke 34:23) This was what ratified my admiration for Jesus. He seems like such a fragile person in front of the guards yet he is strong and says this like it was all he wanted, for God to forgive them. It seems a bit sarcastic but the truth is, Jesus meant it and that is what makes it such a powerful statement.

I never thought I'd like Jesus as much as I do now and I didn't think I'd have so much fun reading the Bible as I did reading Luke's Gospel. It was never a part of my conception of the Bible that it would be so emotional and that it would be so suspenseful. Although the suspense lasts only a couple of lines, its enough to make your heart race. I almost cried with the very vivid descriptions of Jesus' slow death and Peter's farewell. To be honest, not once did I think that the Bible would produce such intense moments yet I think that the New Testament is much more striking than the Old Testament because (at least me) you get to see the character's development more deeply and its less of God trying to impose himself. I can say that this part exceeded my expectations of what the Bible would be, and I ended up liking Jesus, so I suppose I did get something out of it after all.