Jesus, Priest and Victim

Hi Lutero, 

We can never rely on the church fathers for consistency and fully on church history. The safest and secure bet is to only stick to sola scriptura.

What does Scripture say?

Follow those who have received the promise-Heb 6:12

Hear the Church-Matt 18:17;
Church teaches the wisdom of God-Eph 3:10;
Church is the pillar of truth-1 Tim 3:15

About Jesus being a victim its meaning?

Christ is our Passover Sacrifice-1 Cor 5:7

Scripture records Jesus as being in control. He came to be a sacrifice according to God’s sovereign plan. One might argue that Jesus was a victim of sinful men who acted against the law persecuting an innocent man. Even at this level God was in control.

Did Jesus kill Himself? Or was He killed by others?

Acts 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:  This is contrary to a victim taken by some religious group to make a human sacrifice.

Have you not read in Scripture:

John 11:50

Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.

The Church taught me that this verse was in Scripture. Obviously, you didn’t know that the Jews sacrificed one man, Jesus Christ, for the sake of the nation. In other words, they “sacrificed” Jesus.

Or someone who is assaulted against their will.

Sacrifice has nothing to do with the victim’s will. Again have you not read in Scripture:

Judges 11:34-36

King James Version (KJV)

34 And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.  35 And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said, Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of them that trouble me: for I have opened my mouth unto the Lord, and I cannot go back.  36 And she said unto him, My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the Lord, do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth; forasmuch as the Lord hath taken vengeance for thee of thine enemies, even of the children of Ammon.

Jeptha’s daughter was not unwilling. Can you say she was not a victim?

After having Jesus flogged and declaring Him innocent Pilate was told he had no authority over Jesus. John 19:9-11.  This simple interaction shows that Jesus was not a victim. His answer to Pilate’s veiled offer of potential release was to put Pilate in his place. Jesus in essence took away what authority Pilate thought he had. Pilate had no bargaining chips to offer Jesus who did not look for a way out of the false imprisonment as a victim would.

That is the most obvious example of READING INTO Scripture I have ever seen in my life. Where does Scripture say any of that? I don’t see it. You are simply reading into it that which you think unwilling victims would do.

Jesus most explicit statement of authority showing He is not a victim comes from the Gospel of John. John 10:17-18

That just explains that Jesus was a willing victim.

As being a Passover sacrifice in 1 Corinthians 5:7 and lamb of God in John 1:36 that was to be a one time sacrifice as the lamb of God

The Passover Lamb must be consumed (Exodus 12:8-10); that is why Jesus gave us the Bread which is His Flesh for the life of the world (John 6:51). So that we might participate in His Sacrifice and be saved (John 6:54).

Sincerely,

De Maria