Comparison and Contrast of Jesus with Other Miracle Workers - Essay Example

Comparison and Contrast of Jesus with other Miracle Workers of the of the Institute of the Abstract Table of Contents Introduction While considering the Jesus, miracles and other miracle workers, the affect and understanding of miracles on and by the people is important. The miracle is word that is associated with the religion and in this paper, the comparisons and contrasts of the miracles and the miracle workers is necessary. In the above context, Sanders Theresa quotes about Pascal's musings that the heart has the reasons that can be known to any part of the body. The case of understanding miracle is like that and people who are in distress question that why the bad occur to them. In the above question, why not the same bad did not occur to others is an inherent pessimism. When that pessimism is absent, one can understand that the good happened for many as a miracle. Hence, a positive attitude with just a limited criticism is necessary to receive a happening as a miracle. Now the question comes about the nature of the miracle and the miracle workers. Before and after Jesus there are miracle workers and World recognizes Jesus as the most famous one. The most important miracle about Jesus is that he rose to life three days after crucifixion, which is extra-human in nature. This is the most contrasting thing that differentiates Jesus from other miracle workers. The comparison of Jesus with other miracle workers is that many of the miracle workers like Moses have lead the distressed and downtrodden to the path of light and created awareness in them. Another thing that is common about the miracles is the increase of faith of followers on the miracle workers (Sanders Theresa, 2000). Jesus and his Miracles The important aspect about Jesus that contrasts him with other miracle workers is his birth. Christians believe that he is son of God. This tag is not available with other miracle workers and they bore the title of prophets, servant of god or saints. No other miracle worker is named as son of the god and this is the important miracle (if it is so), that contrasts Jesus with other miracle workers. The miracle that made him appear on earth is a contrast to other miracle workers. The incident and the miracle that made him disappear in person from the earth was a contrast as well. The resurgence of Jesus after crucifixion is also a contrast from other miracle workers' disappearance. In addition to that, the miracles of Jesus lead the Jews to rebel against the kings or the kings felt so (Bockmuehl, Markus Editor, 2002). In addition to above, another important aspect about Jesus is that the miracles and activities of him resulted in a divine identity. One of the most contrasting aspects about Jesus is that the followers of Jesus characterized him and historians did not condemn him as a messiah, which is absent in case of other miracle workers. Another contrast about Jesus and other miracle workers is that the miracles of Jesus have moral background and other miracle workers have shown miracles in the context of saving their followers from enemies or natural calamities. Miracles of Jesus also have that nature up to some extent, but his miracles possess a nature of inculcating morality in his subjects. Thus, he preached through his miracles, which is not present to that extent in other miracle workers (Bockmuehl, Markus Editor, 2002). Moreover, the miracles of Jesus healed the followers and thus gave an interpretation to the healings. Jews in the day of Jesus felt that the world is open and it is possible for God or an extra ordinary person like Jesus to perform extra ordinary events (miracles). The origin of the events is the ability of the extra ordinary person or the god. Thus, Jesus has contrast with other miracle workers, as his miracles are foundation for the notion that he has been sent by god. However, in case of miracles of other miracle workers after Jesus, the origin of miracles is Jesus or the ability of god. However, the faith is important in the view of the people regarding miracle workers. Barry D. Smith (2008) quotes the contest of Jesus facing the lack faith in case of inhabitants of Nazareth. Though the comparisons may exist in miracles of Jesus and other miracle workers, the important aspect is that Jesus enjoyed less resistance and more following to his miracles when compared to other miracle workers. In this context, Barry D. Smith quotes about the amazement of Jesus at the lack of faith of inhabitants of Nazareth. Other miracle workers too faced similar amazement but largely. Barry D. Smith quotes another contrast between Jesus and other miracle workers. It is about his threatening in the form of Judgment day. Jesus threatened the people of towns Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum with Judgment day, as they did not turn to god. However, another miracle worker Moses threw Ten Commandments of God to people who did not turn up to god and this brings another aspect of contrast between Jesus and other miracle workers. The aspect of kingdom of God also brought a contrast regarding Jesus and other miracle workers. Jesus is the first miracle worker that brought forth, the aspect of kingdom of God. The miracle workers after him followed that and the miracle workers before him did not brought forth the aspect of kingdom of God or used that word to influence the people (Barry D. Smith, 2008). In addition to above analysis, another important aspect that differentiates Jesus from others is that the evidence or belief about time and space. There are many mythologies in Greece and other parts of the Mediterranean World talking about Hercules and innumerous number of Gods and Goddesses. However, not all the above characters in the mythologies, who are also miracle workers, share the people's view that they have lived in space and time. Jesus and his miracles have proof of time and space or else, the people believe that there is proof that Jesus lived in time and space. There are ancient religious scriptures in different parts of the world, which talk about number of miracle workers and their miracles. In contrast to them, the literature in Bible regarding Jesus enjoys much more belief of the people all over the world (not only Christians) that Jesus lived in space and time and his miracles are true in spirit and word. If we believe that, the stories of other miracle workers are true; even then, they do not enjoy the belief of the large majority of the people about the materialistic evidence of those miracle workers and their miracles (Garry Habermas, 2007). Contexts of Comparison and Contrast The comparison of Jesus with other miracles exists when the supernatural elements in the Jesus story is viewed as mythology. The mythological view of the Jesus story did not bother the views that the Jesus was a failed prophet at the end. Moreover, the act of crucifixion comes to the fore as sacrifice for his subjects at the context of end of his physical appearance. The other miracle workers did not have a failure or sacrifice of that level at the end of their physical existence (Chilton, Bruce, 2003). As the miracles and supernatural events in the story of Jesus have mythological importance, the miracle workers after Jesus also worked in the same manner and added theological importance to Jesus. The afore-mentioned aspect made the miracle workers after Jesus as followers of Christ and resulted in a divinity to the miracles and activities of Jesus. Moses, the other miracle worker before Jesus was christened as 'the servant of Lord' died and no one knows his burial place. That is not in the case of Jesus and his burial is a foundation for a new miracle. Another aspect of contrast is that in case of other miracle workers, their end is known or unknown, but not a miracle. One can quote the case of Moses burial, which is unknown, as the bible did not provide enough evidence or closure to Moses' story. This is not the case in the context of Jesus and his end. Moreover, his resurrection is a legend. In contrast to that, Moses talked about the present and the way of living of the people by Ten Commandments. Jesus also did that, but he also preached about the future to an extent that people believed that he would be the messiah in the far future. The aspect of messiah is absent in lives of other miracle workers. Milanie Jane (2002) quoted the important contrast in miracles of Moses and Jesus. The author states that the early rabbis evoked the God-Moses encounter as a means of legitimating the reconstruction of Jewish religion. However, this is not the case with Jesus as the relationship of Jesus with God is son and father. This difference was an important contrast in Jesus and other miracle workers. The morality and the futuristic view in miracles of Jesus added to the relationship between him and god. In addition to that view, different thinkers projected life of Moses in different views and that resulted in materialistic view of Moses. In contrast to that, theological view was attributed in case of Jesus. The literature on Moses, for example, the Ten Commandments (book and the film) depicted Moses as an innovation of biblical interpretation. However, Jesus is not an innovation but a source for new contexts in Bible like resurrection and Messiah (Wright, Melanie Jane, 2002). Understanding the Comparisons and Contrast The comparison between Jesus and other miracle workers comes from the common aspect that they preach and the contrast arises from the fact that every person is unique so the miracle workers. In addition to that, uniqueness, the divinity assigned to Jesus brought an extra uniqueness to Jesus when compared to other miracle workers. Moreover, the comparison or contrast depends on the understanding of miracle and miracle workers. The understanding differs from community to community and each community or nation understands miracles and miracle workers differently. For example, Americans understand the miracles or miracle workers in the view of realizing individual potential. As miracles of Jesus rake up the individual potential through moral values in an individual, the Americans view Jesus as a way to enhance their individualistic and psychological capabilities. However, the first century people never understood Jesus individually but thought about the groups. The miracle workers are embedded in groups and that resulted in consolidation of Christianity. The embedding of a miracle worker in a group also happened in the case of other miracle workers, but the miracle workers after Jesus used the name of Jesus for their miracles. The miracles of miracle workers before Jesus are not viewed as persons embedded in a group and that is the important contrast between Jesus and other miracle workers. Hence, the contrast between Jesus and other miracle workers depends on group bound understanding and individual understanding. Incidentally, the miracle workers before and after Jesus were viewed in an individualistic manner but due to certain reasons, people had a group bound view of Jesus. Even the administration at the time of Jesus, which crucified him, has alleged that he is trying to be king of Jews. Thus, that allegation might have created a history that made to view Jesus as group bound, but that context is not observed in the case of other miracle workers (Malina, Bruce J, 1996). Malina Bruce further discusses about culture of different parts of the world, while understanding miracle workers. Malina argues that the canonical Christian writings stressed on the importance of considering the persons regarding miracle workers as non-individualistic and thus their view on Jesus is non-individualistic. As number of writings regarding Jesus and Christianity are by first century Mediterranean people, they did not view Jesus in individualistic and self-concerned manner. The group survival is important for them and apart from non-individualistic view, their consideration about Jesus is abnormal. Moreover, the view about Jesus did not consider his childhood experiences as a standard as he is considered as son of God and savior. In contrast, the other miracle workers are considered as individuals. Hence, the writings regarding Jesus are nearer to natural character of humans and that added to the sacrifice of the Jesus at the end of his physical appearance (Malina, Bruce J, 1996). References: Barry D. Smith, 2008, Jesus as Miracle Worker, Atlantic Baptist University, Retrieved on 10th August 2008 from http://www.abu.nb.ca/Courses/NTIntro/LifeJ/MiraclesJesus.htm Bockmuehl, Markus (Editor). (2002), Companion to Jesus. Port Chester, NY, USA: Cambridge University Press. Chilton, Bruce. (2003). Missing Jesus: Rabbinic Judaism and the New Testament. Leiden, , NLD: Brill, N.H.E.J., N.V. Koninklijke, Boekhandel en Drukkerij. Garry Habermas, 2007, How does Jesus Differ From Other Miracle Workers of his Day, You Tube, Retrieved on 10th August 2008 from http://in.youtube.com/watchv=B7wWHWsRlAA Malina, Bruce J. (1996). Social World of Jesus and the Gospels. London, UK: Routledge. Sanders, Theresa. (2000). Body and Belief : Why the Body of Jesus Cannot Heal. Aurora, CO, USA: Davies Group Publishers, Wright, Melanie Jane. (2002). Moses in America : The Cultural Uses of Biblical Narrative. Cary, NC, USA: Oxford University Press, Incorporated. Read More