Willing to Kill Christ

It was a bright Saturday afternoon.  My wife and I had just had a wonderful visit with the Savior.  He had been instructing us regarding the atonement and his own experience which we had not realized was so awful.

We learned that during his time in the garden while he was bleeding from every pore he was burdened by the foreknowledge that by completing the atonement, his name would be used throughout history to judge, condemn and kill others.  That over time, millions would be tortured and put to death in his name by those who claimed to be his followers.  This was the exact opposite of what he wanted and taught!  

He saw it all!  The Holy Wars, the Inquisition, the Witch hunts, and every other act of evil done in his name.  He essentially saw his failure to persuade the masses, or rather the failure of man in their fallen state to grasp and accept the truths which he so simply and clearly taught.

He felt the burden and pain of those millions who suffered and he consequently questioned whether the total impact of his life, teaching, service and sacrifice had done more good or just given men more excuse to do evil.  He cried out in prayer, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”

Surely if there was another way, he would have taken it.  

Later we did some research to get a better idea as to what Jesus was talking about and found that in two wars alone between the Catholics and the Protestants, (The Thirty Years War and the French Wars of Religion), between 5,000,000 and 15,500,000 people were killed in the name of Christ!  We saw the millions killed in the wars between Islam and Christians and realized that although the major wars lasted for less than 200 years, the fighting, torture and hate still continue today.

We remembered how even today professed Christians are often found treating blacks, gays, apostates and other groups with hate in the name of God. 

But of all the things we were shown and taught, the thing that shocked us the most was that Jesus showed us how the false ideas which are presently taught and accepted by Christianity, regarding the atonement and the plan of salvation, actually create many of the problems which the atonement was intended to fix.  

He told us that the intent of the atonement was to create love where there was no love and to create unity and peace between diverse people with diverse views, beliefs and traditions as well as to create unity between man, God and all of creation.  “It was intended to overcome the effects of the fall.”  He told us, “If ye are not one, then ye are NOT mine.” (see John 17:21–23)

He showed us how well intentioned people who employed manipulation, fear and guilt to motivate others to do what they believed was God’s will unknowingly fell under the influence of evil spirits.  These people, lacking basic information regarding the atonement, attempted to understand and explain the atonement.  Over time, they had accidently and unknowingly twisted sound doctrine and corrupted it in a way that it encouraged people to use others and trick others into suffering for them or on their behalf.  

We were shown that as a result of the way the atonement was taught and believed to work, that contrary to his teachings, many Christians were turned into murderers who would actually kill for Christ! This is why good people could be used to fight the many religious wars in the name of Christ.  

Furthermore, he told us that many of these professed Christians would even be willing to kill him, (Jesus Christ), themselves, knowing exactly who he was!  

He explained that the confusion and misunderstanding of the atonement continues even today, the Christian religion has misunderstood the key points of his teachings and doctrines.  He said,

This seemed too crazy to believe!  How could a Christian ever be willing to kill Christ knowing exactly who he was?  We asked,

“Are you saying that a devoted and well-studied Christian today who recognized you to be the actual Jesus Christ that they claim to love and worship would be willing to kill you?” – Elliaison Contributor

Christ responded, 

He went on to explain exactly why they would do it and how their beliefs about the plan of salvation drive them to it. This was ASTOUNDING!  We could hardly believe it!  Could those who profess to love and obey him really be willing to kill him? 

Are we so much better than Peter?

We think of our love and devotion to our savior and like Peter, we couldn’t imagine turning against him.  And yet, we, like Peter, do not yet comprehend the circumstances which would cause us to do so.

“37 Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.

 38 Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice. – John 13:37-38

69 ¶Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.

 70 But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.

 71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.

 72 And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.

 73 And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.

 74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.

 75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly. – Matt. 26:69-75

Peter denied Christ for the fear of man. He was worried that by acknowledging that he was a disciple of Jesus he would likewise suffer or possibly be killed. He denied knowing Jesus to save his physical life.

Even though Peter sought to save his live by denying Christ, this is nothing compared with the thought that we might be willing to kill Christ or participate in his murder… 

Christ told us that many Christians today would be willing to kill him with their own hands, knowing exactly who he was, what he taught and how he lived. This is how badly his message and life’s work has been distorted.

What is interesting is that Christ knew that this would happen before it did. He prophesied it and taught against it. His words are recorded in the Bible and used incorrectly by the very people that need them…(We will show this later.)

Can you think of any situation in which you would willingly kill the Savior Jesus Christ?