"Are You Ready For Jehovah's Sovereignty?"

"Are you ready for Jehovah's Sovereignty" is the name of the latest Watchtower Study published by the Society. It is also a question they should be asking themselves.

Paragraph 1 A momentous event, one that had never before been seen on earth, occurred about October 29 C.E. The Gospel writer Matthew reports: "After being baptized Jesus immediately came up from the water; and, look! the heavens were opened up, and [John the Baptizer] saw descending like a dove God's spirit coming upon [Jesus]. Look! Also, there was a voice from the heavens that said: `This is my Son, the beloved, whom I have approved."' This was one of the few events that was recorded by all four Gospel writers.-Matthew 3:16, 17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21, 22; John 1:32-34.

Paragraph 2 The visible outpouring of holy spirit upon Jesus identified him as the Anointed One, which term means Messiah, or Christ. (John 1:33) At long last, the promised "seed" had appeared! Standing before John the Baptizer was the one whose heel was to be bruised by Satan and who was to bruise the head of that archenemy of Jehovah and His sovereignty. (Genesis 3: 15) From that point on, Jesus was fully aware that he must endeavor to fulfill Jehovah's purpose regarding His sovereignty and the Kingdom.

From that point on? Did not Jesus as a boy know God to be his Father, the temple his home and his life for the Father?

Luke 2:46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you."

49 "Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?"

On a side note, is it so difficult to call John "the Baptist"?

Paragraph 3 To be prepared for the task at hand, "Jesus, full of holy spirit, turned away from the Jordan, and he was led about by the spirit in the wilderness." (Luke 4:1; Mark 1:12) There, for 40 days Jesus had time to meditate deeply on the issue of sovereignty raised by Satan and on the course that He had to take to uphold Jehovah's sovereignty. That issue involves all intelligent creatures—in heaven and on earth. So we do well to consider Jesus' faithful course and see what we must do to show that we too wish to uphold Jehovah's sovereignty.-Job 1:6-12; 2:2-6.

So Jesus had a forty-day sovereignty-themed timeout? The bible says he was tempted not just for those forty days, but according to Luke 4:13, "until an opportune time" arrived. They would do well to consider Jesus faithful course and know he NEVER sinned.

Paragraph 6 To begin with, "Jesus went into Galilee, preaching the good news of God and saying: `The appointed time has been fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has drawn near."' (Mark 1:14, 15) In fact, he said: "I must declare the good news of the kingdom of God, because for this I was sent forth." (Luke 4:18, 21, 43) Jesus traveled the length and breadth of the land, "preaching and declaring the good news of the kingdom of God." (Luke 8:1) Jesus also performed many powerful works—feeding the crowds, taming the elements, curing the sick, and raising the dead. By means of these miracles, Jesus proved that God can undo all the damage and suffering that resulted from the Edenic rebellion and thus "break up the works of the Devil."-1 John 3:8.

And what were the good news? That Christ became enthroned in 1914 AD and soon the planet would be a garden and friendly animals would roam about?

Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.

Matthew 20:28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

His mission was clear.

Paragraph 8 Jesus spared no effort and passed up no opportunity to bear witness to the Kingdom. He worked incessantly, laboring day and night, even forgoing the normal comforts of life. "Foxes have dens and birds of heaven have roosts, but the Son of man has nowhere to lay down his head," he said. (Luke 9:58; Mark 6:31; John 4:31-34) Shortly before his death, Jesus boldly stated before Pontius Pilate: "For this I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth." (John 18:37) Jesus' entire life course demonstrated that he came, not simply to be a great teacher or a miracle worker or even just a self-sacrificing Savior, but to uphold Jehovah's sovereign will and to bear witness to God's ability to fulfill that will through the Kingdom.-John 14:6.

That scripture reads,

John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

While you are at it, just ignore why Jesus is the Lamb of God and how He paid for our sins.

Hebrews 9:26 Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.

Apparently His Sacrifice is important.

Paragraph 10 What comes to your mind when you think of Jesus on the torture stake suffering a slow and agonizing death? Perhaps you remember the ransom sacrifice that Jesus unselfishly gave in behalf of sinful mankind. (Matthew 20:28; John 15:13) You may marvel at the great love that Jehovah showed in providing that sacrifice. (John 3:16) Perhaps you feel as did the Roman army officer who was moved to say: "Certainly this was God's Son." (Matthew 27:54) All of these surely are fitting responses. On the other hand, recall that Jesus' last words on the torture stake were: "It has been accomplished!" (John 19:30) What had been accomplished? While Jesus achieved many things by his life and death, was it not primarily for settling the issue of Jehovah's sovereignty that Jesus came to earth? And was it not foretold that as the "seed," he would suffer the extreme test at Satan's hands so as to clear Jehovah's name of all reproach? (Isaiah 53:3-7) These were weighty responsibilities, yet Jesus fulfilled them in every respect. What an accomplishment!

What has been accomplished? Let's read those verses.

Isaiah 53:3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

Contrary to the Watchtower's self-centered theology, God is not about having his ego bruised; He is about about being holy, just, and loving. He Redeems lost and unloveable creatures. What Christ accomplished cannot be added to, it truly has been done.

Paragraph 11 For his faithfulness and loyalty, Jesus was resurrected, not as a human, but as "a life-giving spirit." (1 Corinthians 15:45; 1 Peter 3:18) Jehovah's promise to his glorified Son was: "Sit at my right hand until I place your enemies as a stool for your feet." (Psalm 110:1) The "enemies" include the chief culprit, Satan, and all those making up his "seed." As King of Jehovah's Messianic Kingdom, Jesus Christ will take the lead in bringing all rebels to nothing, in heaven and on earth. (Revelation 12:7-9; 19:11-16; 20:1-3, 10) Then will come the complete fulfillment of the prophecy at Genesis 3:15 as well as of the prayer that Jesus taught his followers: "Let your kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also upon earth."-Matthew 6:10; Philippians 2:8-11.

Once again they diminish Jesus and his ressurection. What happened when the disciples saw Jesus and thought he was an apparition?

Luke 24:37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have."

Later on He even eats in their presence to reassure them he is physical yet glorified.

Paragraph 12 Today, the good news of the Kingdom is being preached in many lands, as Jesus prophesied it would be. (Matthew 24:14) As a result, millions of people have dedicated their life to God. They are excited about the blessings that the Kingdom will bring. They look forward to living forever in peace and security on a paradise earth, and they joyfully tell others about their hope. (Psalm 37:11; 2 Peter 3:13) Are you one of these Kingdom proclaimers? If so, you are to be commended. There is, however, something else that each one of us must consider.

Why don't they continue quoting Psalm 37?

Psalm 37:19 In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

Is it because they don't expect desertification and cropland losses in their Paradise?

Paragraph 13 The apostle Peter wrote: "Christ suffered for you, leaving you a model for you to follow his steps closely." (1 Peter 2:21) Note that in this instance, Peter mentioned, not Jesus' zeal in preaching or his skill in teaching, but his suffering. As an eyewitness, Peter was well-aware of the extent to which Jesus was willing to suffer in order to submit to Jehovah's sovereignty and prove Satan to be the liar that he is. In what ways, then, can we follow Jesus' steps? We must ask ourselves: `To what extent am I willing to suffer in order to support and honor Jehovah's sovereignty? Do I show by the way I live my life and carry out my ministry that upholding Jehovah's sovereignty is my foremost concern?'-Colossians 3:17.

Why then downplay His Sacrifice throughout this entire article?