We looked at the Therapeutaes
celebration of Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks, last week. This week we will see
that they were exuberant worshipers, they danced and sang with joy to the
Living God. They were also healers. We know that Jesus’ family went into Egypt,
probably to the Therapeutae community as they were connected with Nazarenes and
Essenes as well as those in Damascus. Some people would say that Jesus was
influenced by Buddhists as Buddhists served communities expounding the ideas of
Siddhartha throughout Alexandria. However, if we look at our timeline we will
see something of greater significance and while some similarities exist between
Buddhists and Jesus, we will explore a few ideas that show substantial
differences. The Therapeutaes had ancient books that they studied from and we
have to wonder what books they were. That should be our first order of study.
We have a list of books mentioned
in the Bible. Some we have available today and some we do not. The Israelites
did a wonderful job of recording things, but as we know from history conquering
countries usually attempted to erase the history of the conquered nations. As
we also know, Ptolemy commissioned the transcription of all printed materials,
including the books the Israelites had. All texts were translated into Greek
which was the common language throughout this area of the world at that time.
Seventy copies of the Septuagint were scribed and the originals stored in the
library of Alexandria. The scrolls were sent out around the region of Israel
for use in the synagogues. In 48 BCE, Julius Caesar burned the library at
Alexandria, and between 270 and 275 CE during the attack of Aurelian it was
burned again. Then in 391 CE. Theophilus burnt it. There was one more burning
of the library during the Muslim conquest of Egypt in 642 CE, but by this time
the Biblical text had been canonized at the Nicene Counsel and the Masoretes
had been altering text for over 300 years.
In the book The Secrets of Enoch, we see it recorded that Enoch wrote 365
books. They were given to Noah. Cush stole the garments of Adam and gave them
to his son Nimrod, so we have to ask ourselves, who may have taken some of
those books? We know that Shem had some for the Zedek’s, but some of Enoch’s
books may have been taken east.
In the Dead Sea Scrolls it is
noted that David had written 4,050 psalms. Compared to what we have today in a
standard Bible, we have to wonder what happened to the rest.
Not only did we lose some of
these writings, there were also people who produced supplemental writings in
some of the books. We see this in 1 Samuel when the book that bears his name
notes that he died. Someone obviously wrote quite a bit more after his death.
It is speculated that Samuel also wrote the Book of Judges, and while he may
have started the chronical of 1 Samuel, he did not write 2 Samuel.
1 Sam 25:1 And Samuel died; and
all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in
his house at Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran.
KJV
Here is a small listing of books noted
in the canon of scriptures. Some of these we have, some are merged with other
books, and some we do not have. Let’s look at these.
Gen 5:1 the book of the
generations of Adam
Ex 24:7 book of the covenant,
Ex 32:32-33 Yet now, if thou wilt
forgive their sin; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book
which thou hast written.33 And the Lord said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned
against me, him will I blot out of my book. KJV
Num 21:14 the book of the wars
of the Lord
Deut 28:61 book of this law
Josh 10:13 And the sun stood
still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their
enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood
still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.
2 Sam 1:18 (Also he bade them
teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the
book of Jasher.)KJV
1 Kings 11:41 the book of the
acts of Solomon
1 Kings 14:19 the book of the
Chronicles of the kings of Israel
1 Chron 29:29 the book of
Samuel the seer, and in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the book of Gad
the seer
1 Chron 9:1 the book of the
kings of Israel and Judah
2 Chron 9:29 in the book of
Nathan the prophet, and the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and the
visions of Iddo the seer
2 Chron 12:15 the book of
Shemaiah the prophet, and of Iddo the seer
2 Chron 16:11 the book of the
kings of Judah and Israel.
2 Chron 20:34 the book of Jehu
the son of Hanani
2 Chron 25:4 law in the book
of Moses
Ezra 4:15 the book of the
records
Est 9:30-10:2 letters and written
in the book and the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and
Persia
Ps 69:28 the book of the
living
Isa 34:16 the book of the Lord
Jer 32:12 the book of the
purchase
Dan 12:1-4 every one that shall
be found written in the book. shut up the words, and seal the book
Mal 3:16 a book of remembrance
was written
Ecclus 1:1and not only these
things, but the law itself, and the prophets, and the rest of the books and I found a book of no small learning
1 Macc 1:57 any the book of
the testament
Acts 7:42 the book of the
prophets
Jude 14 Enoch
Rev 21:27the Lamb's book of
life
We should recognize that the
Lamb’s book of Life is not finished yet. The word for “book” in Hebrew is cepher, and can be scrolls, letters,
bills, and other written documents. The earliest form of writing is Paleo
Hebrew, and there are documents written in Paleo Hebrew found in the Dead Sea
Scrolls. Other types of Hebrew were also found as well as writings in Greek,
Aramaic, and Nabataean. The Essenes were literate in several languages and
forms of writing.
While it seems that the
Israelites gave us some great documented timelines, some modern scholars do not
believe the dating of the events of the Bible. One of our problems is that some
Masoretes decided to alter the calendar to accommodate someone other than Jesus
being the Messiah. Through a process of altering years, they eliminated 240
years, resulting in a shorter Hebrew calendar. Now “so called scholars”
discredit the Bible, however super
scholars have found the missing years and added them back. Notice the reference
in Esther, “the books of the chronicles
of the kings of Media and Persia”, this book was one that shows where the
Masoretes altered Biblical dating. Isn’t it a shame that all the sins of the
Masoretes have come to light for the whole world to see just because they
rejected Jesus as Messiah? Now the documents the Holy Spirit inspired people to
write are discredited by the general population.
As we have been observing, the
Essenes, Nazarenes, and Therapeutaes were educated and concerned with living
pure, religiously pious lives. We looked at Philo’s observation of the Feast of
Weeks, which he describes in detail. But we have to remember, knowledge is not
for everyone. Outsiders were allowed into the community for celebrations, and
learning, but the true and deep knowledge was reserved for the committed ones.
Now the Therapeutaes were a healing order. They not only ministered or served
physical healing to people but soulish healings as well. In their location
outside of Alexandria they made large clay pots for wine. They themselves drank
new wine, unfermented wine, but the tall handled pots were for fermenting wine
which was then sold and shipped all over the region. They preferred to live
outside cities and walled villages, and people in need of healing regularly
sought them out in the countryside. This is where we get some conflicting ideas,
as some of the Therapeutaes ways are similar to the ways of Buddhists.
Additionally, some people have questioned whether Jesus was Buddhist as he says
some things that sound like teachings of Buddhism. We will look into that idea
shortly, but we first want to see a little more of Philo’s observations of the
Therapeutae community.
The Works of Philo
Nevertheless we must make the
endeavour and labour to attain to this virtue; for it is not right that the
greatness of the virtue of the men should be a cause of silence to those who do
not think it right that anything which is creditable should be suppressed in
silence; (2) but the deliberate intention of the philosopher is at once
displayed from the appellation given to them; for with strict regard to
etymology, they are called therapeutae and therapeutrides, {1}{from therapeuoµ,
"to heal."} either because they process an art of medicine more
excellent than that in general use in cities (for that only heals bodies, but
the other heals souls which are under the mastery of terrible and almost
incurable diseases, which pleasures and appetites, fears and griefs, and
covetousness, and follies, and injustice, and all the rest of the innumerable
multitude of other passions and vices, have inflicted upon them), or else
because they have been instructed by nature and the sacred laws to serve the
living God, who is superior to the good, and more simple than the one, and more
ancient than the unit;
Notice these people are healers
of physical bodies and souls. Bodies and souls can be mastered or enslaved in
disease due to the indulgence of pleasures, appetites, fears, griefs,
covetousness, follies, injustice and other innumerable multitudes of passions
and vices. Philo and the culture of his day recognized that living an indulgent
life brings disease and sickness. The dilemma Siddhartha Gautama sought to answer
is the plight of human suffering. Siddhartha believed that suffering was
utterly intimate and utterly shared. A community of healers was quite an asset
to the age. All those suffering sought healing just as we do today. This is why
Jesus’ healing and deliverance ministry grew so incredibly large. Humans are
plagued by suffering and will always seek relief from pain.
(11) But the therapeutic
sect of mankind, being continually taught to see without interruption, may well
aim at obtaining a sight of the living God, and may pass by the sun, which is
visible to the outward sense, and never leave this order which conducts to
perfect happiness.
Therapeutaes were taught to see
without interruption so that they might see the Living God. What they did was to
think on and meditate on the written documents that they had, as well as
worshipped the Living God. They didn’t simply spend their days sitting under a
tree, but had devotional time in the morning, then spent their working day thinking
about the Living God, singing and worshipping as they worked. They also had a
devotional time in the evening. Yet their worship time was not introspective or
inner directed, but instead outer directed, directed toward El Elyon. Not a
quiet time but a celebratory time. Look what Philo points out here from his
“outsiders” view.
(12) But they who apply
themselves to this kind of worship, not because they are influenced to do so by
custom, nor by the advice or recommendation of any particular persons, but
because they are carried away by a certain heavenly love, give way to
enthusiasm, behaving like so many revellers in bacchanalian or corybantian
mysteries, until they see the object which they have been earnestly desiring.
Philo notes that they apply
themselves to worship because they are carried away by heavenly love. They
become enthusiastic in their worship. “They are like” is a comparison that
Philo is making; they are like corybatian mysteries, or Korybantes. Corybants were
a group of male dancers, dancing to drums in a “coming of age” initiation to
Cybele the Mountain Mother goddess. Another comparison he makes is the
Therapeutaes were like bacchanalians, people who got drunk and partied
enthusiastically. Philo did not say that they were drunk and dancing and
partying to other gods and goddesses, they looked like people who partied and
danced to other gods. Their God however was El Elyon, the Most High. Today we
can liken this to a Charismatic worship service, a celebratory enthusiastic
display of adoration to the Most High God. This is what we should be seeing in
our worship services. While there is a time for introspection and “navel gazing”,
there is also a time for an exuberant show of heavenly love in worship to an extravagant
Living God.
We can see that the Therapeutaes
were not quiet about their worship, and their community was far more fun as
compared to those that are solemn and heavy burdened. Let’s think about what
Philo is telling us. The whole group sings and dances and worships with
exuberance and abandon. He doesn’t say there is a stage and a special group of
people doing the singing and playing music. He doesn’t say there are soloists,
lights, and smoke machines. He says everyone sings and dances and worships
together. This is not performance based, seeker friendly, three songs and a
prayer before the message type of church. The beauty of this community is they
all had nothing else to do and nowhere else to go. As a community they
worshipped as long as they wanted. They weren’t constrained by the clock. This
is the type of reckless worship that most pastors hate because one never knows
what can happen and there is little control once the group gets started. And
because of religious ideas, pastors feel they need to keep control over the
Holy Spirit. It seems that Paul is the one who tells us that “in the church” we
have to constrain ourselves to do everything decent and in order. It may be
that in the city center church doing things decent and in order would allow the
curious seeker to feel more comfortable. But truly for the mature believer,
wild worship, without constraint, coming from a pure heart cultivates that
heavenly love. Worship with abandon draws angels and empowers the Holy Spirit
to move in ways we want to see as compared to the structured church service
where we try to manipulate an emotional response within the fifteen minutes
allotted for worship. The Therapeutaes were mature in the Lord and wild
reckless worshippers, and because of this they were willing to give up
everything they had to be part of the community. They overcame the ideas of
luxury and indulgence by joining the order and leaving all their possessions to
others. Remember what Jesus said to the rich young ruler?
(13) Then, because of their
anxious desire for an immortal and blessed existence, thinking that their
mortal life has already come to an end, they leave their possessions to their
sons or daughters, or perhaps to other relations, giving them up their
inheritance with willing cheerfulness; and those who know no relations give
their property to their companions or friends, for it followed of necessity
that those who have acquired the wealth which sees, as if ready prepared for
them, should be willing to surrender that wealth which is blind to those who
themselves also are still blind in their minds.
In the Dead Sea Scrolls we note
that people who wanted to join the Qumran order gave their money to a Bursar.
If after a year if it was determined that they could continue their time in
schooling, then they had their money merged into the community. If the initiate
did not stay he was given his money back and he left the order. Philo again
makes an observation as to why the Therapeutaes lived outside cities.
(20) but they take up their abode
outside of walls, or gardens, or solitary lands, seeking for a desert place,
not because of any ill-natured misanthropy to which they have learnt to devote
themselves, but because of the associations with people of wholly dissimilar
dispositions to which they would otherwise be compelled, and which they know to
be unprofitable and mischievous.
The Therapeutaes did not hate or
distrust humankind, they simply didn’t have anything in common with other
people who were not worshippers of El Elyon. If they lived in the cities they
would be compelled to partake in community functions and holy days. Outside the
cities they could partake in their own community functions and holy days. Again
we see Philo’s observations as the Therapeutaes not just being contemplative
but musical. These people were free to worship without scrutiny. Many
grassroots worship groups have sprung up in recent years and these groups
should be enabled and encouraged, not judged and criticized. The Therapeutaes
had writings of ancient men, but they did not simply contemplate on those books
only, they wrote psalms and hymns in dignified rhythms.
(29) They have also writings of ancient men,
who having been the founders of one sect or another have left behind them many
memorials of the allegorical system of writing and explanation, whom they take
as a kind of model, and imitate the general fashion of their sect; so that they
do not occupy themselves solely in contemplation, but they likewise compose
psalms and hymns to God in every kind of metre and melody imaginable, which
they of necessity arrange in more dignified rhythm.
Let’s take special note of the “writings
of ancient men who having been the founders of one sect or another have left
behind them many” books. This is who they modeled themselves after. We have to
ask who these people were. Because we know that the Therapeutaes were a sect of
devout Jews, we know that they would not have the writings of anyone other than
their own ancestors, Enoch, Shem and Eber, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and
the prophets who followed later. Philo did not have the inner secret knowledge
of the Therapeutaes. Notice that they do not occupy themselves solely to
contemplation but they compose music. This is how they go about learning during
the times of feasts:
X. (75) These, then, are the
first circumstances of the feast; but after the guests have sat down to the
table in the order which I have been describing, and when those who minister to
them are all standing around in order, ready to wait upon them, and when there
is nothing to drink, some one will say ... but even more so than before, so
that no one ventures to mutter, or even to breathe at all hard, and then some
one looks out some passage in the sacred scriptures, or explains some
difficulty which is proposed by some one else, without any thoughts of display
on his own part, for he is not aiming at reputation for cleverness and
eloquence, but is only desirous to see some points more accurately, and is
content when he has thus seen them himself not to bear ill will to others, who,
even if they did not perceive the truth with equal acuteness, have at all
events an equal desire of learning. (76) And he, indeed, follows a slower
method of instruction, dwelling on and lingering over his explanations with
repetitions, in order to imprint his conceptions deep in the minds of his
hearers, for as the understanding of his hearers is not able to keep up with
the interpretation of one who goes on fluently, without stopping to take
breath, it gets behind-hand, and fails to comprehend what is said; (77) but the
hearers, fixing their eyes and attention upon the speaker, remain in one and
the same position listening attentively, indicating their attention and
comprehension by their nods and looks, and the praise which they are inclined
to bestow on the speaker by the cheerfulness and gentle manner in which they
follow him with their eyes and with the fore-finger of the right hand. And the
young men who are standing around attend to this explanation no less than the
guests themselves who are sitting at meat. (78) And these explanations of
the sacred scriptures are delivered by mystic expressions in allegories, for
the whole of the law appears to these men to resemble a living animal, and its
express commandments seem to be the body, and the invisible meaning concealed
under and lying beneath the plain words resembles the soul, in which the
rational soul begins most excellently to contemplate what belongs to itself, as
in a mirror, beholding in these very words the exceeding beauty of the
sentiments, and unfolding and explaining the symbols, and bringing the secret
meaning naked to the light to all who are able by the light of a slight
intimation to perceive what is unseen by what is visible. (79) When,
therefore, the president appears to have spoken at sufficient length, and to
have carried out his intentions adequately, so that his explanation has gone on
felicitously and fluently through his own acuteness, and the hearing of the
others has been profitable, applause arises from them all as of men rejoicing
together at what they have seen and heard;
Deep learning was part of this
community. They may very well have had some of Enoch’s books and David’s
Psalms. They may have had the Law, the Covenant, and the Prophets. If we
remember the Letter of Aristeas we
will recognize that at or about 300 BCE people had a different view of the Law
than we do today. The idea of clean and unclean was not a dietary restriction
but the way humans were to behave. This is communicated nicely by Aristeas. He
said that the ordinances were made for the sake of righteousness to aid the
quest for virtue and the perfection of character, Letter of Aristeas 6:26. There was no television, so instead of
images being placed in people’s minds by that medium, Yahweh told Moses to
write in allegorical ideas about animals. Because people spent much more time
outside, they understood the behaviors of animals and could make the
association of moral human behavior compared to non-moral human behavior. So
the mystic expressions in allegories
Philo mentions is that very idea of guiding people’s behavior with the analogy
of the behavior of animals. Likewise, the idea Philo promotes is of the sacred
scriptures being like an animal with the commands like the body or outer shell.
The invisible meaning is the soul of the animal, and contemplation unfolds and
explains the secret meaning of what is unseen and invisible. Philo is
attempting to tell us about the depth and layers of the ancient written texts in
which people can learn about the secret meanings. This is an outsider’s view. Imagine
what it was like to be on the “inside” of the group. Therapeutaes are similar
to the enlightened ones, Buddha’s, of the day. And again they sing a lot after
the teaching. They read poems and then individuals may sing a song they have
recently composed while the others listen until everyone joins in and sings.
(80) and then some one rising up sings a hymn
which has been made in honour of God, either such as he has composed himself,
or some ancient one of some old poet, for they have left behind them many poems
and songs in trimetre iambics, and in psalms of thanksgiving and in hymns, and
songs at the time of libation, and at the altar, and in regular order, and in
choruses, admirably measured out in various and well diversified strophes. And
after him then others also arise in their ranks, in becoming order, while everyone
else listens in decent silence, except when it is proper for them to take up
the burden of the song, and to join in at the end; for then they all, both men
and women, join in the hymn.
Siddhartha was born around
563-400 BCE, with no one being quite sure of the exact year. Just for
comparison, Judah went into captivity in 586 BCE. The earliest writing of
Siddhartha didn’t come about until 200-300 CE. We are looking at a seven hundred year
difference from Siddhartha’s birth and enlightenment to the first accounts of
his ideas. Meanwhile the Israelites had already chronicled thousands of years
of history. Siddhartha sought out two different guru’s for learning. The
Hindu’s believe that all religion started with one family splitting up in seven
different places around the earth. This is where we might speculate that some
of the writings of Enoch, which Noah had saved, were dispersed to the east as
well as in the west. Siddhartha sought Hindu ideas and practiced asceticism
until he realized that that didn’t lead to enlightenment. Brahman Hinduism
believes everything is connected and through asceticism we can become one with
the universe. Siddhartha believed life is suffering and we are trapped in an
endless cycle because we don’t get the truth. Siddhartha eventually came to the
middle way. He came up with four noble truths: 1, life has inevitable
suffering; 2, there is a cause to our suffering; 3, there is an end to
suffering; 4, the end to suffering is contained in the 8 fold path. The eight
fold path is as follows: right understanding, right thought, right speech,
right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right
concentration. Siddhartha then went out to teach these ideas when he was about
35 years old. He then was known as an enlightened one, Buddha. He started a
commune for other men and women to become Buddhists. He also sent those
Buddhists out to serve in the communities, teaching others. These people were
not to take money or food, but they were to rely on the hospitality of those in
the community. Therefore if the Buddhist did not teach well the people of the
community might not feed them. The Buddhists swore a vow of chastity and
poverty. Now let’s compare that short overview to what we know according to
history.
Shem and Eber had a place of
learning in Jebus sometime around 2091 BCE. This is the place David eventually
put the tabernacle. Again, for perspective, David became king around 1004 BCE.
The priests and prophets were an order of men and women who lived a pious life
committed to El Elyon. Jacob served in that order for thirty two years starting
at or about 1985 BCE. Jesus is a priest in the order of Shem, who is also known
as Melchizedek and the first Adonizedek. So Jesus’ ministry had come after the religious
order of the priests and prophets of 2091 BCE. Now whose order was influenced
by who? Was Jesus’ order influenced by
Siddhartha or Siddhartha’s order influenced by the order of
Melchizedek/Adonizedek/Shem, the order Jesus was part of? Yes, that simple
timeline explains a lot. It is more probable that Siddhartha’s Buddhist order
was influenced by the Therapeutaes when Buddhists went to Alexandria to serve
communities. Jesus told his disciples to go out, and in a similar fashion to
the Buddhists, they were not to bring gold or money, or food, or extra clothes
because the workman deserves his support. Yet, unlike Buddha or Buddhists,
Jesus gave the twelve, exousia. One
can’t give what one does not have. Buddha gave ideas for meditation to help
relieve suffering, Jesus gave his disciples the ability to be superhuman.
Matt 10:1 AND JESUS summoned to
Him His twelve disciples and gave them power and authority [1849] over unclean
spirits, to drive them out, and to cure [2323] all kinds of disease and all
kinds of weakness and infirmity. AMP
NT:1849 exousia (ex-oo-see'-ah);
from NT:1832 (in the sense of ability); privilege, i.e. (subjectively) force,
capacity, competency, freedom, or (objectively) mastery (concretely,
magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token of control), delegated influence: KJV
- authority, jurisdiction, liberty, power, right, strength.(Biblesoft's New
Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew
Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International
Bible Translators, Inc.)
NT:2323 therapeuo
(ther-ap-yoo'-o); from the same as NT:2324; to wait upon menially, i.e.
(figuratively) to adore (God), or (specially) to relieve (of disease):KJV -
cure, heal, worship.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and
Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006
Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Jesus gave them an ability that
they did not have before. Buddha did not give anyone the ability to do
anything, regardless of meditating on the 4 noble truths or the 8 fold path.
These disciples had miracle working power, given by Jesus. And as we saw last
week the word therapeuo, is the
etymology, as Philo noted, of the order of the Therapeutaes. Whatever Jesus did
to give the disciples their ability, it seems to be instant, rather than years
of meditative quieting of the mind to receive enlightenment. We also need to
notice that the Therapeutaes were worshippers, connecting to El Elyon via the
Holy Spirit upon them. The Holy Spirit is the connection point so it may be
Jesus imparted the Holy Spirit to the disciples.
Notice that the KJV defines therapeuo as cure, heal, worship. Worship? This is a mistranslation, the word in
the context is attend or serve. This usage as worship is only utilized once. But even though Acts 17:25 KJV says worship, the Therapeutaes’ worship
healed people. Worship does heal because worship aligns our spirit, soul, and
body with the Holy Spirit. Hymns, psalms, thanksgivings, odes, along with music
draw people to the Living God and depending on the root of the disease or
illness, the physical body responds to the power of the Holy Spirit.
Matt 10:5-14 Jesus sent out these
twelve, charging them, Go nowhere among the Gentiles and do not go into any
town of the Samaritans; 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of
Israel. 7 And as you go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand! 8
Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Freely
(without pay) you have received, freely (without charge) give. 9 Take no gold
nor silver nor [even] copper money in your purses (belts); 10 And do not take a
provision bag or a wallet for a collection bag for your journey, nor two undergarments,
nor sandals, nor a staff; for the workman deserves his support (his living, his
food). 11 And into whatever town or village you go, inquire who in it is
deserving, and stay there [at his house] until you leave [that vicinity]. 12 As
you go into the house, give your greetings and wish it well. 13 Then if indeed
that house is deserving, let come upon it your peace [that is, freedom from all
the distresses that are experienced as the result of sin]. But if it is not
deserving, let your peace return to you. 14 And whoever will not receive and
accept and welcome you nor listen to your message, as you leave that house or
town, shake the dust [of it] from your feet. AMP
This is what the order of these
new prophets were to do, heal people. The key here is that these twelve
disciples went to the lost sheep of the house of Israel and were serving
healing and wholeness to people. They were not teaching them to meditate or to
worship, they were healing people as they told them that the kingdom of God was
near. The Buddhist idea is that people don’t need to know if there is a heaven
or hell or what one might be reincarnated as, since those ideas are not
important for today. Yet Jesus thought it was important to tell the lost sheep
about their eternal destination.
Another thing to consider here is
the idea of a workman is worthy of his
hire, or as the AMP says the workman
deserves his support. Many people misapply this idea. First of all, in the
east hospitality was a very big deal. If someone traveling came to the city
center people were to invite that stranger into their home for food and rest.
That was the culture and the covenant of Moses. This was also the corruption of
the culture of Sodom, inhospitality. Here, just like the Buddhists, the
disciples were to go into the city and find a deserving place to stay. The
disciples would bring the message of the kingdom and healing to those in need,
but if the people of the house rejected their message then they were to shake
the dust from their feet. That is a curse. The power of cursing is very strong
on the prophet as we saw with Elisha. So Jesus is giving some directions that
Buddhists would probably not be able to use because they didn’t have the Holy
Spirit on them. Jesus says he did not come to bring peace but a sword.
Now comparing this to our modern
times, the workman is worthy of his hire,
does not have the same connotations. If a preacher were to walk into a city
center, under the stipulations Jesus gave, he would probably be beaten and robbed
or taken to jail for violating a sit/stand law. Today we give to the healing
minister we believe is actually doing a good work for God. But the healing
minister usually has a large home, a plane, expensive cars, and expensive
clothes. Therefore it is up to us to discern if this is the type of workman
Jesus was speaking of. I recently saw a video clip of two televangelists
discussing why they have their own planes and how they could not fly in those
demon filled commercial airplanes. And flying commercial meant they would have
to pray for too many people at the airports. Oh my, I believe Jesus would have
had a very different opinion. It may not be Jesus who is causing these
gentlemen to prosper at all. With the same directions for travel as before Jesus
sends out seventy disciples. This time they are not only to go to the lost
sheep but to all people.
Luke 10:1 NOW AFTER this the Lord
chose and appointed seventy others and sent them out ahead of Him, two by two,
into every town and place where He Himself was about to come (visit). AMP
Luke 10:17-20 The seventy
returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your
name! 18 And He said to them, I saw Satan falling like a lightning [flash] from
heaven. 19 Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon
serpents and scorpions, and [physical and mental strength and ability] over all
the power that the enemy [possesses]; and nothing shall in any way harm you. 20
Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits are subject to you, but
rejoice that your names are enrolled in heaven. [Ex 32:32; Ps 69:28; Dan 12:1.]
AMP
The seventy were full of joy
because demons were under their authority. In fact they messed up satan’s
kingdom so badly that satan himself had to come reorganize his demons. Imagine,
just 70 people caused chaos to satan’s army. What could we actually do today if
we only took spiritual warfare seriously? Jesus then points out the authority
he gave them. Again, he could not give something he did not have to give. The
seventy disciples went ahead doing miracles and healings. We can do what they
did today. We have the Holy Spirit. There is no limit as to what we could do if
we only knew and understood the ancient knowledge. Notice what Jesus says at
the well in Samaria.
John 4:24G4151God is spirit,
G3588 G2316 G2532and G3588the ones G4352doing obeisance to G1473him G1722[3in G41514spirit G25325and G2256truth G11631must G43522do obeisance]. http://studybible.info/ABP_Strongs/John%204
We can be a follower of the order
of Melchizedek, the Zedek’s, and Jesus Christ the Messiah. This is not
available to the unrighteous, or the non-believer on Jesus as Messiah. This
power, exousia is only available to those who believe and receive the Holy
Spirit. This is not something that passed away but instead is very much
available today. Accompany this exousia power with the ancient teachings and
high-spirited worship, our church groups can be places of healings and
miracles. This power is exceedingly above the abilities and attributes of the
Buddhists. While different sects of Buddhism have different ideas regarding
worship, none of them worship in spirit, pneuma,
because they do not have the Holy Spirit. With the Holy Spirit one can then
worship in spirit and truth. That is what the Therapeutaes did. That is what
brings healing to a community, extravagant worship to a worthy Living God, El
Elyon. So technically, yes Jesus could be called a Buddhist because he was
enlightened, and that is what Buddha means. But not because Jesus followed
their practices, Jesus is enlightened because he is of the order of Melchizedek,
Shem, or the first Adonizedek. Jesus’ order goes farther back in history and we
do have the writers of the ancient books to thank. Therefore if we are
following Jesus we are enlightened, Buddhists, but we are of the Zedek order,
not Siddhartha’s order.
Here are a few ideas from the
Essenes found in the Dead Sea Scrolls.
The Community Rule
From the God of Knowledge comes
all that is and shall be. Before ever they existed He established their whole
design, and when, as ordained for them, they come into being, it is in accord
with His glorious design that they fulfil their work. The laws of all things
are unchanging in His hand and He provides them with all their needs.
He has created man to govern the
world, and has appointed for him two spirits in which to walk until the time of
His Visitation: the spirits of truth and falsehood. Those born of truth spring
from a fountain of light, but those born of falsehood spring from a source of
darkness. All the children of righteousness are ruled by the Prince of Light and
walk in the ways of light; but all the children of falsehood are ruled by the
Angel of Darkness and walk in the ways of darkness.
The Angel of Darkness leads all
the children of righteousness astray, and until his end, all their sin,
iniquities, wickedness, and all their unlawful deeds are caused by his dominion
in accordance with the mysteries of God. Every one of their chastisements, and
every one of the seasons of their distress, shall be brought about by the rule
of his persecution; for all his allotted spirits seek the overthrow of the sons
of light.
But the God of Israel and His
Angel of Truth will succour all the sons of light. For it is He who created the
spirits of Light and Darkness and founded every action upon them and
established every deed [upon] their [ways. And He loves the one <<IV>> everlastingly
and delights in its works for ever; but the counsel of the other He loathes and
for ever hates its ways.
These are their ways in the world
for the enlightenment of the heart of man, and that all the paths of true
righteousness may be made straight before him, and that fear of the laws of God
may be instilled in his heart: a spirit of humility, patience, abundant
charity, unending goodness, understanding, and intelligence; (a spirit of)
mighty wisdom which trusts in all the deeds of God and leans on His great
loving kindness; a spirit of discernment in every purpose, of zeal for just
laws, of holy intent with steadfastness of heart, of great charity towards all
the sons of truth, of admirable purity which detests all unclean idols, of
humble conduct sprung from an understanding of all things, and of faithful
concealment of the mysteries of God. These are the counsels of the spirit to
the sons of truth in this world.
And as for the Visitation of all
who walk in this spirit, it shall be healing, great peace in a long life, and
fruitfulness, together with every everlasting blessing and eternal joy in life
without end, a crown of glory and a garment of majesty in unending light.
But the ways of the spirit of
falsehood are these: greed, and slackness in the search for righteousness,
wickedness and lies, haughtiness and pride, falseness and deceit, cruelty and
abundant evil, ill-temper and much folly and brazen insolence, abominable deeds
(committed) in a spirit of lust, and ways of lewdness in the service of
uncleanness, a blaspheming tongue, blindness of eye and dullness of ear,
stiffness of neck and heaviness of heart, so that man walks in all the ways of
darkness and guile.
And the Visitation of all who walk
in this spirit shall be a multitude of plagues by the hand of all the
destroying angels, everlasting damnation by the avenging wrath of the fury of
God, eternal torment and endless disgrace together with shameful extinction in
the fire of the dark regions. The times of all their generations shall be spent
in sorrowful mourning and in bitter misery and in calamities of darkness until
they are destroyed without remnant or survivor.
The nature of all the children of
men is ruled by these (two spirits), and during their life all the hosts of men
have a portion in their divisions and walk in (both) their ways. And the whole
reward for their deeds shall be, for everlasting ages, according to whether
each man's portion in their two divisions is great or small. For God has
established the spirits in equal measure until the final age, and has set
everlasting hatred between their divisions. Truth abhors the works of
falsehood, and falsehood hates all the ways of truth. And their struggle is
fierce for they do not walk together.
But in the mysteries of His
understanding, and in His glorious wisdom, God has ordained an end for
falsehood, and at the time of the Visitation He will destroy it for ever. Then
truth, which has wallowed in the ways of wickedness during the dominion of
falsehood until the appointed time of judgment, shall arise in the world for
ever. God will then purify every deed of Man with his truth; He will refine for
Himself the human frame by-rooting out all spirit of falsehood from the bounds
of his flesh.
The Hymns
16
Because I know all these things
my tongue shall utter a reply.
Bowing down and [confessing all]
my transgressions,
I will seek [Thy] spirit [of knowledge];
cleaving to Thy spirit of [holiness],
I will hold fast to the truth of Thy Covenant,
that [I may serve] Thee in truth and wholeness of heart,
and that I may love [Thy Name].
I will seek [Thy] spirit [of knowledge];
cleaving to Thy spirit of [holiness],
I will hold fast to the truth of Thy Covenant,
that [I may serve] Thee in truth and wholeness of heart,
and that I may love [Thy Name].
Blessed art Thou, O Lord,
Maker [of all things and mighty in] deeds:
all things are Thy work!
Maker [of all things and mighty in] deeds:
all things are Thy work!
Behold, Thou art pleased to
favour [Thy servant],
and hast graced me with Thy spirit of mercy
and [with the radiance] of Thy glory.
and hast graced me with Thy spirit of mercy
and [with the radiance] of Thy glory.
Thine, Thine is
righteousness,
for it is Thou who hast done all [these things]!
for it is Thou who hast done all [these things]!
I know that Thou hast marked the
spirit of the just;
and therefore I have chosen to keep my hands clean
in accordance with [Thy] will;
the soul of Thy servant [has loathed] every work of iniquity.
and therefore I have chosen to keep my hands clean
in accordance with [Thy] will;
the soul of Thy servant [has loathed] every work of iniquity.
And I know that man is not
righteous except through Thee,
and therefore I implore Thee by the spirit which Thou hast given [me]
to perfect Thy [favours] to Thy servant [for ever],
purifying me by Thy Holy Spirit,
and drawing me near to Thee by Thy grace
according to the abundance of Thy mercies
and therefore I implore Thee by the spirit which Thou hast given [me]
to perfect Thy [favours] to Thy servant [for ever],
purifying me by Thy Holy Spirit,
and drawing me near to Thee by Thy grace
according to the abundance of Thy mercies
