The Mistakes of Jesus | Page 9

any thing that they shall ask, it
shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven."[17] "If ye
have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the
fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed,
and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things
whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."[18]
"What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive

them, and ye shall have them."[19] "If ye have faith as a grain of
mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder
place; and it shall remove: and nothing shall be impossible unto
you."[20]
These promises have not been fulfilled. Bishops, priests and deacons
with strong faith have been unable to obtain, by means of the most
sincere prayer, results similar to those indicated. They have followed
Jesus in vain. No man living dare put his faith to the test by a public
demonstration of prayer for physical changes. Christian prayers for rain
are conventional, not being offered with confidence that rain will
follow.
Jesus has misled us.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Matt. xii, 40.
[2] Luke xvii, 27; Matt. xxv, 38.
[3] Matt. iv, 17.
[4] Matt. x, 23.
[5] Matt. xvi, 28; Mark ix, 1.
[6] Matt. xxiv, 14-34; Luke xxi, 32.
[7] Mark i, 15.
[8] Mark xiii, 29-30.
[9] John v, 28-29.
[10] Matt. xi, 4-5.
[11] Mark xvi, 17-18.

[12] John xiv, 12.
[13] John viii, 51.
[14] John xi, 26.
[15] John xi, 6.
[16] Matt. x, 29-31.
[17] Matt. xviii, 19.
[18] Matt. xxi, 21-22.
[19] Mark xi, 24.
[20] Matt. xvii, 20.

OBSCURE TEACHINGS
Many of the sayings of Jesus lacked clarity. Various interpretations
have been put upon them by scholars of distinction. No one is sure
what was meant.
According to the gospels, Jesus was descended from David, but Jesus
mystified his hearers on this descent, saying: "If David then call him
Lord, how is he his son?"[1]
Witnesses and Judge
On the subject of witnesses there is great confusion. "If I bear witness
of myself, my witness is not true."[2] "Though I bear record of myself,
yet my record is true."[3] "It is also written in your law, that the
testimony of two men is true. I am one that bear witness of myself, and
the Father that sent me beareth witness of me."[4] "I and my Father are
one."[5] "My Father is greater than I."[6]
This and the following instruction regarding judicial procedure are far

from clear. Jesus acknowledged the principle of law requiring more
than one witness but said that in his case the only other witness
necessary was his Father, although he and his Father were one.
Jesus is supposed to be the judge of the world, but his statement of the
case leaves the issue ambiguous. "For the Father judgeth no man, but
hath committed all judgment unto the Son."[7] "I judge no man. And
yet if I judge, my judgment is true."[8] "And if any man hear my words,
and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but
to save the world."[9] "For judgment I am come into this world, that
they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made
blind."[10]
The quality of reasoning employed in these instances has naturally led
to theological quibbling. If Jesus can argue in that fashion, so can his
followers, at the expense of intellectual honesty.
Cannibalism
The Jews could not understand what Jesus meant when he said:
"Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have
no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath
eternal life."[11]
Religion Only for Children
Nor are these sayings clear: "I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and
earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and
hast revealed them unto babes."[12] "Whosoever shall not receive the
kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein."[13]
This train of thought implies that education is of no importance where
belief is concerned.
Difficult or Easy?
After enumerating the many hardships that must be endured by his
followers, Jesus contradicted himself by saying, "For my yoke is easy,

and my burden is light."[14]
Charity
There are apparent contradictions in his instructions regarding charity:
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father which is in heaven."[15] "Take heed that ye do
not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no
reward of your Father which is in heaven."[16]

The Scriptures Upheld
Jesus