Thesis: Jesus failed to provide a way for universal happiness.
Jesus resisting temptation from Satan in the desert was a failure on Jesus’ part to lay a foundation upon which to build his kingdom. Therefore, the church has partnered with Satan since Jesus left the earth to provide another way for humanity to experience universal happiness.
I. Jesus failed to quench the three torments of men: 1. Need for communality of worship 2. Need for miracle 3. Need for universal union
II. Temptation in desert 1. Bread ~ communality of worship a) Jesus resisted Satan’s urge to change stones to bread, asserting “People need more than bread for life; they must feed on every word of God” (Matthew 4:4, NLT). b) Jesus did not want to deprive man of freedom by buying their obedience with bread. c) However, this move of Jesus’ was a mistake due to the nature of humanity. Mankind is depraved, earthly, feeble, and rebellious. d) When mankind understands that freedom and earthly bread cannot both be supplied simultaneously, their nature will compel them to choose bread. e) “Nothing has ever been more insufferable for man and for human society than freedom!” (252). f) In the end people will chose slavery to GI and bread over freedom and free will. g) GI: “You promised them heavenly bread, but, I repeat again, can it compare with earthly bread in the eyes of the weak, eternally depraved, eternally ignoble human race?” (253). h) If Jesus had changed the stones to bread, he would have answered the torturous question of mankind, “namely: ‘before whom shall I bow down?’” (254). i) GI will: i. give people bread ii. make them obedient iii. rule in God’s name iv. in this deceit, suffer but provide escape from freedom for the people v. people will have communality of worship 2. Jump and trust God – need for miracle a) Satan told Jesus to jump off the highest point of the Temple and trust for God to catch him. b) Jesus acted like God, proud and magnificent, not jumping down. c) Mankind, however, is not as strong as Jesus.Jesus misjudged mankind to be stronger than they really are. d) Humans chose miracle over acting like God in crisis. e) GI: “Is that how human nature was created – to reject the miracle, and in those terrible moments of life, the moments of the most terrible, essential, and tormenting questions of the soul, to remain only with the free decision of the heart?” (255). f) When man rejects miracle, he will reject God, because mankind truly seeks miracle more than God (255). g) Since Jesus denied miracle to mankind, mankind will be too weak to endure freedom and no miracle. Therefore, mankind will become rebellious. However, they will not be able to endure their own rebellion. h) In the end, we will instruct despairing mankind in miracle, mystery, and authority. They will be relieved to be lead as sheep once again. i) “Have we not, indeed, loved mankind, in so humanly recognizing their impotence in so lovingly alleviating their burden and allowing their feeble nature even to sin, with our permission?” (257) 3. Bow down: all kingdoms – authority and universal union a) Satan offered Jesus power and authority over all the kingdoms of the earth if Jesus would bow down to him [Satan]. b) By rejecting Satan’s offer, Jesus rejected the opportunity to provide mankind with universal union. c) GI has taken up Satan’s offer with the goal of universal happiness of mankind. d) Jesus failed to proved mankind with what all search for: “someone to bow down to, someone to take over his conscience and a means for unfitting everyone at last into a common, concordant, and incontestable anthill” (257). e) GI’s man for universal happiness involves taking up the opportunity of d) that Jesus turned down.
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Grand Inquisitor Outline
Thesis: Jesus failed to provide a way for universal happiness.
Jesus resisting temptation from Satan in the desert was a failure on Jesus’ part to lay a foundation upon which to build his kingdom. Therefore, the church has partnered with Satan since Jesus left the earth to provide another way for humanity to experience universal happiness.
I. Jesus failed to quench the three torments of men:
1. Need for communality of worship
2. Need for miracle
3. Need for universal union
II. Temptation in desert
1. Bread ~ communality of worship
a) Jesus resisted Satan’s urge to change stones to bread, asserting “People need more than bread for life; they must feed on every word of God” (Matthew 4:4, NLT).
b) Jesus did not want to deprive man of freedom by buying their obedience with bread.
c) However, this move of Jesus’ was a mistake due to the nature of humanity. Mankind is depraved, earthly, feeble, and rebellious.
d) When mankind understands that freedom and earthly bread cannot both be supplied simultaneously, their nature will compel them to choose bread.
e) “Nothing has ever been more insufferable for man and for human society than freedom!” (252).
f) In the end people will chose slavery to GI and bread over freedom and free will.
g) GI: “You promised them heavenly bread, but, I repeat again, can it compare with earthly bread in the eyes of the weak, eternally depraved, eternally ignoble human race?” (253).
h) If Jesus had changed the stones to bread, he would have answered the torturous question of mankind, “namely: ‘before whom shall I bow down?’” (254).
i) GI will:
i. give people bread
ii. make them obedient
iii. rule in God’s name
iv. in this deceit, suffer but provide escape from freedom for the people
v. people will have communality of worship
2. Jump and trust God – need for miracle
a) Satan told Jesus to jump off the highest point of the Temple and trust for God to catch him.
b) Jesus acted like God, proud and magnificent, not jumping down.
c) Mankind, however, is not as strong as Jesus.Jesus misjudged mankind to be stronger than they really are.
d) Humans chose miracle over acting like God in crisis.
e) GI: “Is that how human nature was created – to reject the miracle, and in those terrible moments of life, the moments of the most terrible, essential, and tormenting questions of the soul, to remain only with the free decision of the heart?” (255).
f) When man rejects miracle, he will reject God, because mankind truly seeks miracle more than God (255).
g) Since Jesus denied miracle to mankind, mankind will be too weak to endure freedom and no miracle. Therefore, mankind will become rebellious. However, they will not be able to endure their own rebellion.
h) In the end, we will instruct despairing mankind in miracle, mystery, and authority. They will be relieved to be lead as sheep once again.
i) “Have we not, indeed, loved mankind, in so humanly recognizing their impotence in so lovingly alleviating their burden and allowing their feeble nature even to sin, with our permission?” (257)
3. Bow down: all kingdoms – authority and universal union
a) Satan offered Jesus power and authority over all the kingdoms of the earth if Jesus would bow down to him [Satan].
b) By rejecting Satan’s offer, Jesus rejected the opportunity to provide mankind with universal union.
c) GI has taken up Satan’s offer with the goal of universal happiness of mankind.
d) Jesus failed to proved mankind with what all search for: “someone to bow down to, someone to take over his conscience and a means for unfitting everyone at last into a common, concordant, and incontestable anthill” (257).
e) GI’s man for universal happiness involves taking up the opportunity of d) that Jesus turned down.
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