This is something i appreciate a lot about Dr Wright; expounding on the several meaning and implications of the cross, rather than being overly focused on just one aspect
I am thrilled by the reference of Judah offering himself for his brother Benjamin, as a foreshadowing of Christ's offering Himself for us. Didn't see that coming ! 👍🏻🙏🏻🕊
Amen. Judah the lions whelp. Make me remember the blessings that Jacob/Isra-EL spoke of Judah’s life. Hence why Jesus came through the line of Judah. Remember that woman that Judah give his sceptre as payment for laying with her.
It is the case that Jesus went through something so that we would not experience something else. But it is not the case that Jesus got what we would have received had he not gone through what he did. Furthermore, it is not the case that his suffering was instead of our own. The two thieves would illustrate along with the thousands of others who were also crucified by the Romans; not to mention that all of the rest of us still die, some of us worse deaths than crucifixion. In fact, Judah might have offered, but he did not actually stand in place of Benjamin. That was not how the narrative played out. Joseph simply forgave them. Then, in Exodus 32, Moses offers to take the punishment for the people and God’s explicit response was to tell him no; if He was going to punish, then He would punish the ones who sinned. Notice, too, in Ex 32 that forgiveness and punishment are an either/or: If forgiveness, then no punishment is necessary, neither vicariously nor directly.
How wonderful - thank you! I’ve often wondered about the scriptures Jesus spoke if on the road to Emmaus! So many! And thought Jacob’s ladder (cf. John 1:51) and Is 61 (cf. Luke 4) would have been included. And the ones in Handel’s Messiah
The power of the cross, implemented not through the dominance, cruelty and violence of empires, but by Jesus' followers taking up their cross to show power through self-giving love and their own sacrifice. Wow, what a counter-cultural narrative! No wonder Paul called it 'foolishness' to the status quo. Thank you
My friend, the cross thing came about 300 years after Jesus left. The cross was originally a pagan symbol for the worship of (T):ammuz, or Baal, and I think there are a few other names in the bible. Constantine brought the cross along when he supposedly converted to "Christianity" and made it a symbol for Jesus fro some reason. It is strange to think that Jesus was about love, kindness, and forgiveness, and the Roman empire used the cross as an instrument of death to execute Christians. Go figure, a symbol of death and people admire it to this day. Actually it is still an idol for the god Tammuz, no matter what is said, or what it is called..
Dear Prof Wright … I am about to start master degree course… I love to do research under the title “ images and themes” may you allow me to use this clause to be included in the title of thesis please? 🙏 many thanks
Thanks for your consideration. Prof. Wright is semi-retired and does not personally monitor this channel. The wording "images and themes" is not exclusive to Prof. Wright and if it works for you, use it! We hope your research is fulfilling! --NTW Online Team
Thank you for this beautiful exposition. We do take the cross for granted - both its history and its symbolic power. Sadly, humanity's only hope is Islam's worst sin. It is the only religion whose book speaks against it. I attended an Islamic institute lecture which taught that not only is "shirk," assigning Jesus as a partner to God, the worst sin, but the unforgivable sin is dying with a cross on - jewelry or tattoo. It would mean that you could never exit hell. (Otherwise, Islamic hell is rather like a purgatory from which a Muslim can be released over time.) And so, we don't recommend evangelizing Muslims directly through the cross. We come to it gradually. As Dr. NT did here, we use symbolism from the patriarchs that they know of, especially the tradition of blood sacrifice for sin, of which they are unaware. That way, as one Iranian PhD on campus declared just as I got to Christ, "So, Jesus is the Lamb of God!" As new believers, of course, they come to cherish the cross as we do.
Muslims desperately need the gospel - especially in Britain and the States before, as in Muslim countries, we are muzzled against sharing it. For more on sharing the gospel and Christian teachings with Muslims click on our green icon to the left for a 2-minute intro.
What do we think about the Atonement Theory's? I think there are 7 throughout church history. Christos Victor I think is well communicated here & Ransom Theory, Substitution... (Penal Substitution?)
Hello Richard, great question! N.T. Wright is semi-retired and does not personally monitor this channel, but you can find more about his views on atonement in his books and online courses. For a brief look, here are some short videos you can check out from @PremierOnDemand th-cam.com/video/pkXI33hpe2o/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/qfnV69nIOrw/w-d-xo.html Also, we offer a self-paced online course on the cross and its meaning if you'd like to dig deeper: www.ntwrightonline.org/portfolio-items/revolution/?portfolioCats=50%2C52%2C49%2C51 You can always reach out to us at contact@admirato.org if you have any questions. --NTW Online Team
Matthew 23:4 "They bind burdens, heavy and hard to bear and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger." This means that your cross, when picked up, will be borne by His strength and power within you. Matthew 11:28-30 NASB2020 [28] “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. [29] Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For My yoke is comfortable, and My burden is light.” When you find that your cross is uncomfortable and heavy, remember to Whom your are yoked.. and allow His strength to be your own, for it is 'the finger of God' that moves what you carry: Christ in you, the hope of glory!!!
What is impressive is how Jesus defeated evil, by loving His enemies. His same love washing away a multitude of sins. By allowing evil to do its best and kill Him only to laugh at evil as He rose from the grave. I love how Paul by the Holy Ghost expound upon this and said “let this mind of Christ, dwell in us richly”. He who being in the form of God thought it not robbery but humbled Himself as a servant. Even to death upon the cross. Like Pilate said “behold the MAN”. Jesus was the TRUE WHOLE MAN. The new Adam. ❤️🙏✝️
A brilliant exposition of the cross, but I sense Dr. Wright still lacks a belief in the more penal substitutionary aspects of the cross. Ie., God’s wrath and condemnation, which is just against our transgression of His holy law, propitiated by Jesus and enabling Christ’s righteousness to be imputed to my account. Can you clarify please?
This is something i appreciate a lot about Dr Wright; expounding on the several meaning and implications of the cross, rather than being overly focused on just one aspect
Thank you for the encouragement. We appreciate our supportive community who make these videos possible.
--NTW Online Team
Fr. Wright opened the scriptures for us here. We love and appreciate you.
We're grateful for your gracious words, thank you.
--NTW Online Team
I am thrilled by the reference of Judah offering himself for his brother Benjamin, as a foreshadowing of Christ's offering Himself for us. Didn't see that coming ! 👍🏻🙏🏻🕊
Amen. Judah the lions whelp. Make me remember the blessings that Jacob/Isra-EL spoke of Judah’s life. Hence why Jesus came through the line of Judah. Remember that woman that Judah give his sceptre as payment for laying with her.
We're grateful for a community who explores and discovers these truths with us!
--NTW Online Team
It is the case that Jesus went through something so that we would not experience something else. But it is not the case that Jesus got what we would have received had he not gone through what he did. Furthermore, it is not the case that his suffering was instead of our own. The two thieves would illustrate along with the thousands of others who were also crucified by the Romans; not to mention that all of the rest of us still die, some of us worse deaths than crucifixion. In fact, Judah might have offered, but he did not actually stand in place of Benjamin. That was not how the narrative played out. Joseph simply forgave them. Then, in Exodus 32, Moses offers to take the punishment for the people and God’s explicit response was to tell him no; if He was going to punish, then He would punish the ones who sinned. Notice, too, in Ex 32 that forgiveness and punishment are an either/or: If forgiveness, then no punishment is necessary, neither vicariously nor directly.
Thank you so much for posting these videos, I am so grateful!
We're grateful for our supporters who help us produce these videos and make them so widely accessible! Thank you!
--NTW Online Team
Incredible, tied up a lot of loose ends for me with regard to the NT & JESUS's sayings!!! Thank you
Thank you for sharing this, it means so much!
--NTW Online Team
How wonderful - thank you! I’ve often wondered about the scriptures Jesus spoke if on the road to Emmaus! So many! And thought Jacob’s ladder (cf. John 1:51) and Is 61 (cf. Luke 4) would have been included. And the ones in Handel’s Messiah
Bless you.
Bless you, Betty!
--NTW Online Team
The power of the cross, implemented not through the dominance, cruelty and violence of empires, but by Jesus' followers taking up their cross to show power through self-giving love and their own sacrifice. Wow, what a counter-cultural narrative! No wonder Paul called it 'foolishness' to the status quo.
Thank you
Very well said, thank you!
--NTW Online Team
Thank you for what you're doing with Tom's work. I'm very grateful.
My friend, the cross thing came about 300 years after Jesus left. The cross was originally a pagan symbol for the worship of (T):ammuz, or Baal, and I think there are a few other names in the bible. Constantine brought the cross along when he supposedly converted to "Christianity" and made it a symbol for Jesus fro some reason. It is strange to think that Jesus was about love, kindness, and forgiveness, and the Roman empire used the cross as an instrument of death to execute Christians. Go figure, a symbol of death and people admire it to this day. Actually it is still an idol for the god Tammuz, no matter what is said, or what it is called..
Dear Prof Wright … I am about to start master degree course… I love to do research under the title “ images and themes” may you allow me to use this clause to be included in the title of thesis please?
🙏 many thanks
Thanks for your consideration. Prof. Wright is semi-retired and does not personally monitor this channel. The wording "images and themes" is not exclusive to Prof. Wright and if it works for you, use it! We hope your research is fulfilling!
--NTW Online Team
Thank you for this beautiful exposition. We do take the cross for granted - both its history and its symbolic power.
Sadly, humanity's only hope is Islam's worst sin. It is the only religion whose book speaks against it.
I attended an Islamic institute lecture which taught that not only is "shirk," assigning Jesus as a partner to God, the worst sin, but the unforgivable sin is dying with a cross on - jewelry or tattoo. It would mean that you could never exit hell. (Otherwise, Islamic hell is rather like a purgatory from which a Muslim can be released over time.)
And so, we don't recommend evangelizing Muslims directly through the cross. We come to it gradually. As Dr. NT did here, we use symbolism from the patriarchs that they know of, especially the tradition of blood sacrifice for sin, of which they are unaware.
That way, as one Iranian PhD on campus declared just as I got to Christ, "So, Jesus is the Lamb of God!"
As new believers, of course, they come to cherish the cross as we do.
Muslims desperately need the gospel - especially in Britain and the States before, as in Muslim countries, we are muzzled against sharing it.
For more on sharing the gospel and Christian teachings with Muslims click on our green icon to the left for a 2-minute intro.
Hummmm! More to think about. Thank you.
Glad you're here to think with us!
--NTW Online Team
This is so good 👍
Thanks from Brazil.
Excellent! The Jesus Pictures are my one thing, because they do express the nature of the Eternal Spirit operating in Jesus.
We're glad you found this excellent! Thank you for your kind words. What other topics do you enjoy learning about?
--NTW Online Team
may God bless you
May God bless you, too. We're grateful to belong in this community together!
--NTW Online Team
What do we think about the Atonement Theory's? I think there are 7 throughout church history. Christos Victor I think is well communicated here & Ransom Theory, Substitution... (Penal Substitution?)
Hello Richard, great question! N.T. Wright is semi-retired and does not personally monitor this channel, but you can find more about his views on atonement in his books and online courses.
For a brief look, here are some short videos you can check out from @PremierOnDemand th-cam.com/video/pkXI33hpe2o/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/qfnV69nIOrw/w-d-xo.html
Also, we offer a self-paced online course on the cross and its meaning if you'd like to dig deeper: www.ntwrightonline.org/portfolio-items/revolution/?portfolioCats=50%2C52%2C49%2C51
You can always reach out to us at contact@admirato.org if you have any questions.
--NTW Online Team
Matthew 23:4 "They bind burdens, heavy and hard to bear and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger."
This means that your cross, when picked up, will be borne by His strength and power within you.
Matthew 11:28-30 NASB2020
[28] “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. [29] Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For My yoke is comfortable, and My burden is light.”
When you find that your cross is uncomfortable and heavy, remember to Whom your are yoked.. and allow His strength to be your own, for it is 'the finger of God' that moves what you carry: Christ in you, the hope of glory!!!
What is impressive is how Jesus defeated evil, by loving His enemies. His same love washing away a multitude of sins. By allowing evil to do its best and kill Him only to laugh at evil as He rose from the grave. I love how Paul by the Holy Ghost expound upon this and said “let this mind of Christ, dwell in us richly”. He who being in the form of God thought it not robbery but humbled Himself as a servant. Even to death upon the cross. Like Pilate said “behold the MAN”. Jesus was the TRUE WHOLE MAN. The new Adam. ❤️🙏✝️
We're glad you are encouraged by the video. Thanks for your support!
--NTW Online Team
A brilliant exposition of the cross, but I sense Dr. Wright still lacks a belief in the more penal substitutionary aspects of the cross. Ie., God’s wrath and condemnation, which is just against our transgression of His holy law, propitiated by Jesus and enabling Christ’s righteousness to be imputed to my account. Can you clarify please?
Why not discard the book. It is useless.