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JESUS CHRIST: GOD-MAN - Vital Christianity

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"If we let Him go on like this, everyone will believe in Him, and then the Romans<br />

will come and take away both our place and our nation. . . . Jesus said, 'My<br />

kingdom is not of this world. If it were, My servants would fight to prevent My<br />

arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is from another place.' 'You are a<br />

King, then!' said Pilate" (Jn 11:48; 18:36-37).<br />

“. . . they insisted, 'He stirs up trouble all over Judea by His teaching. He<br />

started in Galilee and has come all the way here. . . . with shouts they [the<br />

Jews] insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. So<br />

Pilate decided to grant their demand. He released the man who had been<br />

thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and<br />

surrendered Jesus to their will" (Lk 23:23-25).<br />

His accusers said He was a drunk and glutton:<br />

"But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect<br />

complained to His disciples, 'Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors<br />

and 'sinners'? They said to Him, 'John's disciples often fast and pray, and<br />

so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but Yours go on eating and drinking'" (5:30,33).<br />

They accused Jesus of keeping bad company:<br />

"When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw Him eating and<br />

drinking with the 'sinners' and tax collectors, they asked His disciples:<br />

'Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners'" (Mk 2:16).<br />

But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered,<br />

'This man welcomes sinners and eats with them'" (15:2).<br />

They accused Him of being a dog (that's what the Jews called the Samaritan):<br />

"The Jews answered Him, 'Aren't we right in saying You are a Samaritan<br />

and demon-possessed'" (Jn 8:48).<br />

Jesus' enemies accused Him of being a deceiver or liar:<br />

"When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, 'I am the light of the world.<br />

Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of<br />

life.' The Pharisees challenged Him, 'Here You are, appearing as Your own<br />

witness; your testimony is not valid'" (vv. 12-13).

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