Quote:
Originally Posted by Teuthida
Say Jesus actually existed, and say people actually saw him do these things...it's pretty easy to fake turning water the color of wine or to appear to walk on the surface of water. Doing these things would probably trick people into believing he was who he said he was and give his words more weight. People are gullible. Religion is proof of that.
EDIT: I feel bad about that last bit...but it really does end that thought nicely...soooo...ummmm sorry?
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Don't worry about it. I've read much worse things about religion on the internet.
While I would agree that people are gullible, I wouldn't agree that the miracles of Jesus could be considered mere parlor tricks. What have you heard previously about the miracles of Jesus? They are many and varied and none of them could have been accomplished with mere tricks.
For instance, using your examples: Jesus did not turn the water into the color of wine, he turned water (6 jars of it the bible says, each holding 20 to 30 gallons) into actual wine without ever touching it himself. Furthermore, they took the wine to the headwaiter (who did not know where it had come from) and upon tasting the wine he commented that this wine tasted better than what had been served previously.
As far as walking on water, how easy do you think that is to do? If you know how to fake it using first century technology, please let me know, because I would be eager to try. Furthermore, Peter joins Jesus on the water and walks for a while until his faith falters and he begins to sink.
I can name other miracles:
- Jesus heals a man born blind from birth.
- Jesus heals 10 lepers.
- Jesus repairs a man's ear after one of his disciples cuts it off as they are taking Jesus into custody.
- Jesus raises a man from the dead after he had been buried in a tomb for four days.
There was a good reason people were amazed at his works. They were not simple tricks, but acts that could not be accomplished without supernatural powers.
But that's not the most amazing thing Jesus did!
Jesus, who was fully God, allowed himself to be born of a woman and become fully human. He lived as we live, suffered as we suffer, and died as we too will die so that each and every person on this earth may be redeemed and come to live eternally with God! God sent Jesus to make the ultimate selfless sacrifice out of his immense love for you!
Why would you resist believing that? Is it because it seems too good to be true?