Such Wisdom – Are the teachings of Jesus of Human Origin or from God?

A wise man once said, “Just leave them alone, and they will go away if they are not from God”.  This is a paraphrase from the book of Acts.  A wise member of the Sanhedrin, ‘a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people’ made a similar statement regarding Peter and the apostles who were teaching in Jesus’ name.  This assembly of the elders of Israel was for the most part in agreement that the apostles should be killed, but Gamaliel made them change their minds with his words.  Here are his words:

“Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. ^36 Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. ^37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. ^38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. ^39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” The Holy Bible : NIV Acts 5:35-39

And, here we are 2000 years later, followers of the message these apostles preached are still being persecuted, killed, and silenced.  I wonder if those behind these acts will prevail?  I wonder if the believers in Christianity are about to fail?  I wonder if they haven’t failed because the fight is against God?

In the battle between human desire and God, I know who I choose.

~Jeff

P.S.  It is rumored that a man who spent much of his life trying to destroy Christianity, bibles and the faith, who also said something like ‘Christianity is a fad and it will be gone within 100 years’; upon his death, his home was soon converted into a workshop that created bibles.