The quest of the historical Jesus : $b a critical study of its progress from Reimarus to WredeSchweitzer, Albert
Religion
The quest of the historical Jesus : $b a critical study of its progress from Reimarus to Wrede
Schweitzer, Albert
Jesus Christ -- Biography -- History and criticism; Jesus Christ -- Historicity
“Only by sensuous means can sensuous ideas be overcome.” The Jewish
Messiah must die and rise again, in order that the false conceptions of
the Messiah which were cherished by the multitude might be destroyed in
the moment of their fulfilment—that is, might be spiritualised. Nicodemus,
Haram, and Luke met in a cave in order to take counsel how they might
bring about the death of Jesus in a way favourable to their plans. Luke
guaranteed that by the aid of powerful drugs which he would give Him the
Lord should be enabled to endure the utmost pain and suffering and yet
resist death for a long time. Nicodemus undertook so to work matters in
the Sanhedrin that the execution should follow immediately upon the
sentence, and the crucified remain only a short time upon the cross. At
this moment Jesus rushed into the cave. He had scarcely had time to
replace the stone which concealed the entrance, so closely had He been
pursued over the rocks by hired assassins. He Himself is firmly resolved
to die, but care must be taken that He shall not be simply assassinated,
or the whole plan fails. If He falls by the assassin’s knife, no
resurrection will be possible.
In the end, the piece is staged to perfection. Jesus provokes the
authorities by His triumphal Messianic entry. The unsuspected Essenes in
the council urge on His arrest and secure His condemnation—though Pilate
almost frustrates all their plans by acquitting Him. Jesus, by uttering a
loud cry and immediately afterwards bowing His head, shows every
appearance of a sudden death. The centurion has been bribed not to allow
any of His bones to be broken. Then comes Joseph of Ramath, as Bahrdt
prefers to call Joseph of Arimathea, and removes the body to the cave of
the Essenes, where he immediately commences measures of resuscitation. As
Luke had prepared the body of the Messiah by means of strengthening
medicines to resist the fearful ill‐usage which He had gone through—the
being dragged about and beaten and finally crucified—these efforts were
crowned with success. In the cave the most strengthening nutriment was
supplied to Him. “Since the humours of the body were in a thoroughly
healthy condition, His wounds healed very readily, and by the third day He
was able to walk, in spite of the fact that the wounds made by the nails
were still open.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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