>There's a lot of evidence, both factual and circumstantial,
>that points to him being married, but I haven't seen any
>evidence that can prove that he WASN'T married. I believe that
>Jesus was a "normal" man in all ways until he started his
>preaching. So he did everything normal Jewish men at that time
>did, including hanging out with his boys, boozing (remember
>the wine incident, there's no way he'd have turned that water
>into wine if he didn't think wine was OK), getting a career,
>and eventually getting married and getting kids. Then when his
>father called him, he had to leave all that behind and do his
>thing, same way all his disciples had to leave their wives and
>families and follow him.
What you say here actually reveal you have limited in biblical resources. As such you Know neither the scriptures nor God who sends his son into this world. Christ had been ordained in heaven before he birth here on earth and his coming here was purposely to restore unto God the Lost mankind. Of course he took upon himself our human body and walked in this sinful world but depended on His father 100%. He did not engage in the things of this world which he often said belonged to the of this world (unbelievers)
ATlian I always say that treating Holy Scriptures as a normal literature is of no use to you. Because, you only end up corrupting its teaching to find your own way. You talk about the wine that Christ made(his first miracle) I want you to read carefully and weigh what the ruler said after drinking that wine. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew
the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now. John 2:9-11
IT IS OBVIOUS THAT YOU DONT KNOW. I TAKE THE LIBERTY TO BRIEFLY INFORM YOU ABOUT THE MIRACLE AND THE LESSON THEREIN. AS MEN SET FORTH THE BEST WINE FIRST, THEN AFTERWARD THAT WHICH IS WORSE, SO DOES THE WORLD WITH ITS GIFTS. THAT WHICH IT OFFERS MAY PLEASE THE EYE AND FASCINATE THE SENSES, BUT IT PROVES TO BE UNSATISFYING. THE WINE TURNS TO BITTERNESS, THE GAIETY TO GLOOM. THAT WHICH WAS BEGUN WITH SONGS AND MIRTH ENDS IN WEARINESS AND DISGUST. BUT THE GIFTS OF JESUS ARE EVER FRESH AND NEW. THE FEAST THAT HE PROVIDES FOR THE SOUL NEVER FAILS TO GIVE SATISFACTION AND JOY. EACH NEW GIFT INCREASES THE CAPACITY OF THE RECEIVER TO APPRECIATE AND ENJOY THE BLESSINGS OF THE LORD. HE GIVES GRACE FOR GRACE. THERE CAN BE NO FAILURE OF SUPPLY. IF YOU ABIDE IN HIM, THE FACT THAT YOU RECEIVE A RICH GIFT TODAY INSURES THE RECEPTION OF A RICHER GIFT TOMORROW. THE WORDS OF JESUS TO NATHANAEL EXPRESS THE LAW OF GOD'S DEALING WITH THE CHILDREN OF FAITH. WITH EVERY FRESH REVELATION OF HIS LOVE, HE DECLARES TO THE RECEPTIVE HEART, "BELIEVEST THOU? THOU SHALT SEE GREATER THINGS THAN THESE." JOHN 1:50.
The gift of Christ to the marriage feast was a symbol. The water represented baptism into His death; the wine, the shedding of His blood for the sins of the world. The water to fill the jars was brought by human hands, but the word of Christ alone could impart to it life-giving virtue. So with the rites which point to the Saviour's death. It is only by the power of Christ, working through faith, that they have efficacy to nourish the soul.
The word of Christ supplied ample provision for the feast. So abundant is the provision of His grace to blot out the iniquities of men, and to renew and sustain the soul. THE WINE WHICH CHRIST PROVIDED FOR THE FEAST, AND THAT WHICH HE GAVE TO THE DISCIPLES AS A SYMBOL OF HIS OWN BLOOD, WAS THE PURE JUICE OF THE GRAPE. TO THIS THE PROPHET ISAIAH REFERS WHEN HE SPEAKS OF THE NEW WINE "IN THE CLUSTER," AND SAYS, "DESTROY IT NOT; FOR A BLESSING IS IN IT." ISA. 65:8.
It was Christ who in the Old Testament gave the warning to Israel, "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise." Prov. 20:1. And He Himself provided no such beverage. Satan tempts men to indulgence that will becloud reason and benumb the spiritual perceptions, but Christ teaches us to bring the lower nature into subjection. His whole life was an example of self-denial. In order to break the power of appetite, He suffered in our behalf the severest test that humanity could endure. It was Christ who directed that John the Baptist should drink neither wine nor strong drink. It was He who enjoined similar abstinence upon the wife of Manoah. And He pronounced a curse upon the man who should put the bottle to his neighbor's lips. Christ did not contradict His own teaching. The unfermented wine which He provided for the wedding guests was a wholesome and refreshing drink. Its effect was to bring the taste into harmony with a healthful appetite.
As the guests at the feast remarked upon the quality of the wine, inquiries were made that drew from the servants an account of the miracle. The company were for a time too much amazed to think of Him who had performed the wonderful work. When at length they looked for Him, it was found that He had withdrawn so quietly as to be unnoticed even by His disciples. The attention of the company was now turned to the disciples. For the first time they had the opportunity of acknowledging their faith in Jesus. They told what they had seen and heard at the Jordan, and there was kindled in many hearts the hope that God had raised up a deliverer for His people. The news of the miracle spread through all that region, and was carried to Jerusalem. With new interest the priests and elders searched the prophecies pointing to Christ's coming. There was eager desire to learn the mission of this new teacher, who appeared among the people in so unassuming a manner.
ATlian Dont just utter things you dont know, lest you be held responsible for leading multitudes away from the Lord, just as Christ pronounced a curse upon the man who should put the bottle to his neighbor's lips. Your wild misrepresentation of the biblical teachings is tantamount to putting of mocking wine to your neighbors lips.
>Later on when the Catholic church decided that celibacy was
>the chosen route for their priests, the powers that be decided
>that it would not look good if Jesus was married. So they
>removed all references of the marriage from the bible.
The Catholic Church decided on celibacy because ancient pope was ravaging their religions name with persistent sexual scandals. The most notable was the woman pope Joan who fell pregnant out of wedlock. The poor lady died out of shame. She had numerous adulterous scandals to her credit. The Catholic Church did not remove any marriage reference (on Christ) from the bible. In the first place there was none (marital union) about Christ. If anything you dont know the history of this Catholic religion. I can tell by the way you apply your reasoning here. This church has fought Protestantism and the bible for ages and even now they have not relented. The other day were discussing rapture (I wish you could drop in your two cent). I clearly outlined how the Jesuit of Rome is bent on destroying the bible by introducing the theory of rapture. I went ahead and showed how the bible is in opposition of such theology. Why would they do that? It is from this book that Martine Luther sought his arsenal and sent chill into the halls of Vatican. Biblical teaching rebuked and reproved Catholism and its evil doctrines.
>A good question is why WOULDN'T Jesus be married? God places a
>very high value on marriage and that man + woman unity, so it
>would be hypocritical for his son not to do it.
While God places a high value on married there is nowhere he also imposes it on the people. Paul in fact say that it God for a man not to marry, but because of sexual sin it better for men to marry than to burn with desire. Sin (read desire) originates from the mind (which when is idle is Satans workshop).
Even if Christ was married there would still be Protestants whom God has used to this date to protect his word. They would have maintained the word as it is. Humans are not greater than God. God would not even hide that. But We know clearly that Christs mission was not rocreate and establish himself a family but to work Gods will. ATlian I pray that God will continue to reveal his light to you through this site and eventually win you over to his side.
We have so many things said about Christ. Other poeple even go as far as saying he was gay and even say they have evidence.your argument comes as no surprise.