Will some of you theologians out there help me with an exegesis of these scriptures by Jesus? I have an answer but I would like to get another perspective on it.

Question #1 Why did Jesus say let the dead bury the dead?

Question #2 Why did Jesus ask the man at the pool of Bethesda who had been paralyzed for 38 years will thy be made whole or do you want to be healed? I know that Jesus asked this question for a good reason but I am not certain as to why he asked the man if he wanted to get well. I would love to hear all of your thoughts on these two scriptures.

JazzMan

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2001

Answers

I'm not a theologian but I frequently refer to these scriptures. Let the dead bury the dead: Refers to the fact that after death it is too late; a funeral hearse is not an emergency vehicle ( I was charge in Denver with not giving the right of way to an emergency vehicle and fought the case and won on the basis that the hearse is not an emergency vehicle.); The priority should be to the living rather than the dead.

Do you want to be made whole (well): I contend if the man had said no, Jesus would not have healed him. Many of us are sick because we don't want to be made whole. The man having laid there 38 years had to bear some responsibility for his condition. First of all, he was waiting for the wrong thing, "an angel to trouble the water.".

Blessings

Pastor Paris

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2001

Greetings in the Name of Jesus

The questions Do you want to get well is important because it was clear that Jesus knew the man's motives. ONe would think that the answer would be yes or no. This "clever" one has a third answer ... I have no-one. Check the scripture and you will see he had his whole wardrope down with him. If he is healed, he wold have to get up early in the morning and earn his keep. Staying sick, enabled him to lay around whilst others " The Missionary, and other ministries" so pitifully provide for him.

Most of our parishioners refused to be healed because of the challenges that waits us after a spiritual healing .. the harvest is great but the labourers are few. When Christ heals us, we are expected to go out and bring in the harvest. We prefer to remain ill because it is to our advantage. Intead of us being a help for others we need help ourselves

Hope this sheds some light on the text

God Bless

Clive

-- Anonymous, December 29, 2001