S2 Ep 26. Spiritual Hero. Part 5. The changing image of Christ

Christ has a changing image over time. The first is that of holy man, the curer of the sick, an exorcist of devils, the worker of miracles, and he who demonstrates the soul. This second image rapidly moves to that of a prophet, as in the line of Old Testament prophets – an elevation of his status. The third image is an even greater elevation to that of the chief prophet, the messiah himself, the anointed one, from the house of David who is still a human being, but has come to rebuild the temple and bring the Jewish religious authorities and the Jewish people back to their true god. This image and role is both religious and political. So far we are in the Jewish traditions. The fourth image steps outside of this Jewish framework and the Christian writers of the Gospels elevate Jesus to the son of the Father, the son of god, and the route to the father who is heaven. By now the Christians have their eye on the lands outside of Judea, and their mission is  to the peoples of the Roman empire and perhaps even beyond. A universalist vision is to take hold of Christianity.  But this comes next in our story.

There is also an introduction to the next podcast in two weeks time, March 21 2020 - the emerging economic and financial crisis of our time. 

Reference: Tanakh - The Hebrew Bible - Ketuvim - Scriptures - Psalm 22

https://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/16243/jewish/Chapter-22.htm

 

References from Gospels using Psalm 22:

Verse 1, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?", is quoted in Mark 15:34; Matthew 27:46[16]

Verse 7, "They hurl insults, shaking their heads", is quoted in Mark 15:29; Matthew 27:39[16]

Verse 8, "He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him", is quoted in Matthew 27:43[16]

Verse 18, "They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment", is quoted in Mark 15:24; Matthew 27:35; Luke 23:34; John 19:24[16]