I find it logical from the previous explanation that the Creator declined ample opportunities to sacrifice Himself for the human race because those opportunities did not equal the specific type of sacrifice of Adam’s Conjugal love. For example, the Creator could have spared a great war or could have spared the death and suffering of thousands of people by sacrificing Himself instead. Or, the Creator could have spared the famine that struck and killed many people by sacrificing Himself instead. The most amazing opportunity that I find the Creator declined was when Jesus was a child and Herod the Great Roman King failed in his attempt to kill the Child Jesus, but in the process massacred many innocent children of two years and younger and caused the pain and wailing of their families as told in Matthew 2: 1-23. This would have been a heroic sacrifice if the Creator allowed the Magi to trade with Herod by offering to kill Jesus instead of the innocent children. However, while that would have been a noble sacrifice, it was much less in value and importance than the conjugal love sacrifice upholding the Creator’s Design when Adam gifted his life to the Creator. Therefore, the Creator’s sacrifice must be in the context of a Conjugal Sacrificial Love that reflects physically and spiritually the Creator’s Holy Trinity. Therefore, what is needed is nothing other than a sacrificial wedding ceremony that involves the Creator. This is an unprecedented situation and I believe the Creator had no option but at least to match Adam’s choice of physical and spiritual conjugal sacrificial love and for the Creator to attempt to do the unimaginable. Reflecting the image of the Creator’s Design is the Creator’s greatest love gift and nothing less could satisfy Adam’s gift of self for the conjugal love of the Creator’s Design.
An additional problem is that to kill the Creator, even in His Son of Man persona, is not a possible task for anyone. The Creator as the redeemer cannot and did not lose any of His abilities as a Creator even in His persona as the Son of Man. It is vital that the Creator does not intentionally lose any of His abilities, because Adam gifted the Creator in His complete form; thus it is the Creator with His complete ability as a Creator whom should at least reciprocate the gift.
Throughout History, the Creator showed His mighty power not only in His incredible creations, but in punishment of the wicked Man. The Creator flooded the world in Noah’s time (Genesis 7). The Creator made an escape route in the Red Sea to save Moses and the Israelites from the Egyptians (Exodus 14). The Creator touched the old wooden Ark of the Covenant with a tip of His finger, and the Ark became so Holy that people who touched it were instantly killed such as - 1 Samuel 6:19 describes the killing of 70 people; 2 Samuel 6:7 describes the instant death of Uzzah; on the day of atonement once a year God allowed only the high priest to enter and touch the Ark of the covenant; and only the Holiest of Holies would survive (Leviticus 16:2). The Creator destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19). Even satan with all his might acknowledged that Christ is all powerful and that the Angels would not allow a stone to touch his foot as stated in Matthew 4: 6,
saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’”
Even the people who came to arrest Jesus fell to the ground when he answered them “I am He” as stated in John 18:4-6,
Then Jesus, knowing all that was to happen to him, came forward and asked them, “Whom are you looking for?” They answered, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus replied, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they stepped back and fell to the ground.
Therefore, it is clear that not the King Herod, Pontios Pilate, the people, or satan can kill Jesus. Jesus told Pontios Pilate in Matthew 19: 11,
“Jesus answered him, “You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”
God never directly gave Pilate power to kill His Son Jesus. Christ declined such a redemptive opportunity to be sacrificed in place of the children by King Herod. Additionally, Pilate had no authority from God to conduct a Holy Marriage of His Son. God authorized the marriage of Adam and Eve when they were in the Garden of Eden. Thereafter, God established the Jewish (old) priesthood to stand, officiate and authorize (witness) the marriage covenant of His people Israel. Israel was called the wife of the Groom God as in Hosea 2:19,
“And I will take you for my wife forever; I will take you for my wife in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love, and in mercy.” In Hosea 2: 16 states, “On that day, says the LORD, you will call me, ‘My husband,’ ...” And in Isiah 54:5 “For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is his name; the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called.”
So the plan of God is to fulfill the marriage of the first Eve and first Adam that resulted in the Death Conjugal Love. John 18:12-14 and vs 24 shows that the high priest Caiapphas and Annas, his father-in-law, presided over Christ’s trial. The trial has the hidden elements of qualifying, officiating, and authorizing Christ’s wedding to His Bride Israel (and even a father-in-law Annas is present to complete the picture) that God called his wife forever (note that Israel is depicted as “The People”) as stated in John18:12-14,
So the soldiers, their officer, and the Jewish police arrested Jesus and bound him. First they took Him to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was better to have one person die for the people. Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas, the high priest.
Therefore, I find that the presence of the Jewish priesthood (and especially the high priest and his father-in-law Annas) judging Christ in the Holy Temple and the Courtyard of the high priest rather than anywhere else in the world, may appear to be a death court, but is actually a wedding ceremony to marry the Groom Christ to Israel the LORD’s wife forever. The event has all the necessary ingredients for a marriage with the Jewish priesthood acting as the officiating authority for the marriage. The Life Conjugal Love that I am referring to is the Creator’s Design to restore the original Creator’s Design for a marriage that would permanently reflect the Creator’s Images, comply with the Creator’s commandments, and be free from adultery and idolatry involving the Creator’s son. Therefore, as God stated, the Conjugal wedding which would result in His Son’s death is indeed permanent. But still, the Jewish priesthood were never given authority over Christ. Apparently, the Jewish priesthood somewhat knew their limitation and never sought to kill Christ unassisted even though He was in their Temple as a child and as an adult.
Therefore, Christ established the New Priesthood. In Matthew 16: 16-20 we find Christ changing Simon’s name to Peter and giving him alone the power that Christ had expressed as the “Keys of Heaven,”
Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.
Therefore, Peter has been given power which includes presiding over the marriage of Christ. This may not be as clear, but having the authority of the “Keys of Heaven” and “anything Peter allows on earth would be allowed in Heaven” includes the new priestly authority to officiate the marriage of Jesus, the Son of God. Part of the authority that was given to Peter as the absolute leader and successive chair (position) of his authority also was given to the Apostles later on. But nevertheless, to authorize the marriage of Christ (who is the Creator in the Persona of Man) must involve Peter with the Keys of authority. The new priesthood and the old priesthood are the physical image of the invisible Creator’s persona as a Father. It is rightly so that the priests are called “Fathers” just as the Heavenly Father witnessed the marriage of Adam and Eve. Calling the members of the priesthood “fathers” does not conflict at all with the Creator’s Second Commandment as the title does not refer to gods, but to the role of the invisible Heavenly Father. There are many clues prior to the birth of Jesus that explain God’s preparation for the new priesthood and His salvation plan. Therefore, Peter and all his successors are “a throne of honor.” Isiah 22: 20-25 describes the authority that Christ was referring to when He singled out Peter alone with the Keys,
On that day I will call my servant Eliakim son of Hilkiah, and will clothe him with your robe and bind your sash on him. I will commit your authority to his hand, and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David; he shall open, and no one shall shut; he shall shut, and no one shall open. I will fasten him like a peg in a secure place, and he will become a throne of honor to his ancestral house. And they will hang on him the whole weight of his ancestral house, the offspring and issue, every small vessel, from the cups to all the flagons. On that day, says the LORD of hosts, the peg that was fastened in a secure place will give way; it will be cut down and fall, and the load that was on it will perish, for the LORD has spoken.
Please, pay attention to Isiah 22:20. The chosen one is called “father” and notice that Christ used nearly the same words that were repeated to Peter in verse 22 related to the Keys of authority and succession. The keys of authority are repeated in Revelation 3:7-8 describing that the one with authority had limited power, but kept His Words and did not deny His name,
And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens: “I know your works. Look, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.”
Later Jesus showed that He had given great authority to His new priesthood including the authority to marry Christ. However, the issue is not fully clarified to the Apostles as stated Luke 9-43-45,
While everyone was amazed at all that he was doing, he said to his disciples, “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands.” But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was concealed from them, so that they could not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying.
We also notice Peter opposing the unprecedented situation as stated in John 13: 6-9,
He came to Simon Peter; and Peter said to him, “LORD, do you wash my feet?” Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not know now, but afterward you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part in me.” Simon Peter said to him, “LORD, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!”
It is clear that Peter realized Christ’s action has given him so much authority and Peter objected to it at first. Christ pointed out to the Apostles and Peter that they did not understand what was taking place at the time, but later they would.
Recall in the Old Testament, that the High priest alone was allowed to unveil the Ark of the covenant and only on the day of atonement after purifying himself and the entire Israelite as stated in Leviticus 16: 17, No one shall be in the tent of meeting from the time he enters to make atonement in the sanctuary until he comes out and has made atonement for himself and for his house and for all the assembly of Israel.
That purification process resembles to a certain degree the washing of the feet and the New Baptism that is discussed in this book. Further vs 21 shows that the old priesthood had a very specific role described by the Creator – the role of interceding between the Creator’s people and the invisible Creator for the forgiveness of sins,
Then Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all their transgressions, all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat, and sending it away into the wilderness by means of someone designated for the task.
The status of the old priesthood and the High priest is permanent. Likewise the status and roles of the new priesthood is permanent as Christ explained to Peter and his successors, as stated in Leviticus 16: 30-34,
For on this day atonement shall be made for you, to cleanse you; from all your sins you shall be clean before the LORD. It is a sabbath of complete rest to you, and you shall deny yourselves; it is a statute forever. The priest who is anointed and consecrated as priest in his father’s place shall make atonement, wearing the linen vestments, the holy vestments. He shall make atonement for the sanctuary, and he shall make atonement for the tent of meeting and for the altar, and he shall make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly. This shall be an everlasting statute for you, to make atonement for the people of Israel once in the year for all their sins. And Moses did as the LORD had commanded him.
Christ transferred the authority of the old priesthood to forgive sins to Peter and the new priesthood as stated in John 20:23,
If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.
In their role as the visible father, the High priest Aron and members of the old priesthood heard the sins of the people and interceded between them and the Creator on the Day of Atonement and that assured the people that their sins had been forgiven. Therefore, it is clear that Christ established a new priesthood with even more authority than the old priesthood and the role of the new priesthood was to act and stand as the invisible Heavenly Father.
The washing of feet demonstrated by Christ to His Apostles is an example of a lesson of humility. Christ had previously performed many humble acts such as eating with sinners. In addition to the obvious humility lesson, the washing of feet symbolizes Christ preparing His new priesthood and authorizing them to be the visible witness of the invisible Creator Father in the Holy occasion of Christ’s wedding that was about to take place in an incredible Feast of sacrificial Conjugal love that perfectly reflects the image of the Creator’s Holy Trinity Persona. The new priesthood was purified for entering and touching the Holy Ark of the Covenant by the Holy Christ Himself.
Judas’ role was vital in the story. If the Jewish high priests needed an ordinary person to point out Jesus to them, certainly they would have found many and they would have talked to and known Jesus so well that they would have wanted to kill him. I find that no one could touch Jesus without the permission of one of His new authorized high priests. I also find that Judas was given a certain limited authority over Christ that was sufficient to authorize Christ’s arrest (Sacrificial Conjugal Love). Peter had the greatest authority because he had singularly been given the “Keys of Heaven.” Peter appears to have objected to the arrest of Jesus when Peter struck the Jewish high priest’s servant (disobeying the authority of the Old priesthood for the marriage that leads to death) and cut off his ear. Christ was given into the ultimate conjugal love by the authority of Judas as stated in John 18: 10-11,
Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus. Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath. Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?”
Jesus commanded that Peter put his sword away which was a request to Peter not to resist giving Christ in marriage. Peter obeyed and in doing so authorized the giving of Christ into marriage as illustrated by Peter denouncing Christ three times that same night. That same night, while Christ was on trial Peter was inside the High priest’s courtyard at three stages permitting the Death Conjugal Sacrificial Love to go forward. The scene was described as a violent death trial; Judas and Peter followed Christ to His trial and Judas assisted Peter to enter inside the Courtyard during the important event, as described in John 18:15-17,
Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, but Peter was standing outside at the gate. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out, spoke to the woman who guarded the gate, and brought Peter in. The woman said to Peter, “You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.”
Notice that right after Peter’s first denial (a permission to allow Christ to Labor and Die in a Sacrificial Conjugal Feast to His Bride Israel), Christ was struck by the High Priest’s servant and questioned by the High priests Annas and Caiaphas as stated in John 19-24,
Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. Jesus answered, “I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard what I said to them; they know what I said.” When he had said this, one of the police standing nearby struck Jesus on the face, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” Jesus answered, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong. But if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?” Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
While inside the Courtyard Peter denied Christ two more times as stated in John 18:25-27. I find this denial gave permission for Christ to be questioned and further gave permission for the order for persecution by Pilate, his soldier, and the Jewish people, and further gave permission for the Roman soldiers to crucify Him in a hidden ultimate sacrificial Conjugal Love to His Bride Israel.
Peter had previously witnessed the appearance of Elijah and Moses to Christ in the Garden of Eden and had claimed that Christ is “LORD and God.” Peter had received the “Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven,” and resisted the Jewish priests and the Roman soldier. Peter did not answer the three simple questions asked by unarmed people about whether Peter was with Christ or knew him. Peter did not deny Christ that easily. However, in this case, not standing with Christ was equivalent to giving the authority for the hidden Feast of Christ’s highest form of Conjugal sacrificial love. I find that is the answer to what Christ told Pilate – that if the authority was not given to him from above, Pilate could not lay a hand on him, or actually anyone else. The authority from above shortly was given in the form of the “Keys of Heaven” to Peter. Therefore, now the Sacrificial Wedding Ceremony could go forward and would result in the ultimate Groom’s sacrifice of His life to His Bride.
Now I will cover other important preparation for the Sacrificial Wedding Feast of Christ that is disguised as only killing. We need the giving of the hand of the Groom and the hand of the bride in marriage. We also need to dress the Groom in His wedding clothes. Remember that the hidden marriage must be permanent to reflect the Creator’s design.
Church history describes St. Joseph as a “Holy and Old man.” His old age in comparison to the young Virgin Mary appears to play a role as the visible manifestation of the invisible Heavenly Father not only to Jesus, but also to the Virgin Mary. St. Joseph took the Virgin Mary with Her pregnant child under his protective wings just as a father would protect his children. The story tells us that Christ was left behind for three days and was found at the Temple. Notice the three days symbolize the image of the Creator and the Creator’s Design of the marriage. I find that St. Joseph bringing the Virgin Mary to Jesus at the Holy Temple of Jerusalem where special marriages took place symbolizes the father bringing the Virgin Mary in her role as the “Hand-picked Bride” or the “Second Eve” to Jesus or as He is called the “Second Adam” for the future marriage ceremony. The hand of the Second Eve as the future Bride was given in the Holy Temple. Christ is called the Second Adam in 1Corinthians 15:45,
Thus it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
Who would give the Groom’s hand in marriage? St. Joseph’s job appeared to be completed and he had died earlier so only the Virgin Mary and Jesus were at the Wedding Feast in Cana. The Virgin Mary comes to Her Son, the Groom to Be and tells him that the wedding feast had run out of wine. Christ answered her by telling her what she has done is early for His Hour. Christ answered her, “Woman, my hour has not come yet.” The Virgin Mary moved forward in the preparation of the wedding and told the servants, “Do as He tells you.” The Virgin Mary was acting in the role of “the Groom’s Mother” – she was giving Him in marriage within the wedding ceremony. Jesus answered by calling her “Woman,” pointing to the Second Eve and the Bride just as the first Adam called the first Eve “Woman” when saw her. The “Hour” is the wedding hour that would end in the Ultimate Conjugal Sacrifice.
An important part of the Wedding Feast was washing and dressing the Groom. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Virgin Mary cared for Her Son’s chosen persona and exercised the privilege of washing her son who was also her future Bride. In fact, she cared for six months for Elizabeth and her son John who would prepare the way “Preparation of the Sacrificial Wedding Feast.” Years later, Christ went to John to be baptized by him. John objected, but Christ insisted on being washed first as stated in Matthew 3:13-15,
Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.
That shows that John was chosen by God to be cared for by the Mother and Bride of Christ for six months as befits a new priest who washes and prepares the Groom Christ and who prepares the Sacrificial Wedding Feast. Moreover, John had spent most of his life in the desert where he most likely fasted, prayed, and avoided sinning to be as holy as possible for this privileged honor. Washing the Son of God resembles the old High priests’ purification prior to entering and touching the Holy Ark of the Covenant.
Additionally, John was a virgin chaste man. It is important to note that John sacrificed his life, rejecting the idolater and adulterous marriage that leads to death and defended the Holy marriage that leads to life. In other words, John reflected the image of the Creator’s Conjugal Design and was martyred for rejecting a conjugal relationship that did not reflect the image of the Creator’s design.
Christ said in John 6:49, “Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.” The manna bread represents the marriage food of Adam and Eve after the fall that led to death. But the bread that Christ would give leads to everlasting life. John 6:50 and 52 states,
“This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die.” ... So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves.”
Later, in the Passover festivities Jesus established the Marriage of Life – the “Eucharist”– using bread and Wine. He made them His real Flesh and His real Blood alive in the Spirit of God, reflecting the Holy Trinity. This is also symbolizes what can be called the Holy Church’s Wedding of Life, because conjugal sacrificial love is the ultimate sacrifice that reflects the image of the Creator’s Holy Trinity. Conjugal love alters the two partners into one flesh. Likewise, the Eucharist alters bread and wine and into the Flesh and Blood of Christ. The living Eucharist is the image of the Holy Trinity. Not only that, but the Flesh and Blood of Christ gives life to the receiver and thus assimilates within the receiver’s body so the two become One Flesh. The authorized new priesthood can consecrate the new Food of life, can eat and drink from that Living Food and Drink, and can give them to the qualified worthily community, and hence the name Holy Church’s Wedding Feast (The permanent Bride).
Eating Jesus’ Flesh and drinking Jesus’ Blood is an incredible act. It is truly the ultimate Conjugal Love that Christ not only died for His Bride, but is feeding the Bride with His own Living Flesh and Blood. It elevates us from mere humans to children of God, heirs and co-heirs of Christ’s everlasting Kingdom. But, preparation is required to eat and drink the Holy and sinless Body and Blood of God and so that it can unite in our bodies and we can unite in His just as a husband and wife become One Flesh. For the incredible privilege, Christ established the Baptism as being born again from water and holy Spirit so we can withstand the incredible privilege of eating and drinking His Holy Body and Blood. Additionally, as long as we live on earth, we sin and can lose our worthiness to eat and drink the Holy Body and Blood of Christ. Therefore, Christ established the authority of the new priesthood to forgive sins, “If you forgive the sins of any, their sins [a]have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained” (John 20:23). But, who can have the rights to give us the Flesh and Blood of Christ? This is an element of ultimate Conjugal love and so requires the new priesthood that Christ established. The members of this new priesthood had the privilege to eat and Drink Christ’s Holy Flesh and Blood during the Passover celebration. So, now the new priesthood with the qualified community of believers became truly the representation of Christ’s eternal Bride. That is precisely what Christ stated to Peter upon giving him “the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 16,19) and upon changing his name as a sign of changing the Jewish priesthood authority as stated in Matthew 16:18, “and on this rock, I build my Church...” The Church is explained as the Bride of Christ. As discussed, the Creator’s design of marriage is a permanent alteration forever. Therefore, Christ assured that “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” Therefore, the Church becomes permanent and Holy.
Therefore, the Creator designed marriage as a covenant. The old Covenant leads to death on its own. However, the New Covenant established by Christ leads to everlasting life. This Covenant of the Holy Eucharist is an essential ultimate sacrificial Conjugal Love, because God’s design needs Holy Children that live with Him permanently. In a way, not only the members of the new priesthood are privileged to feed off the Body and Blood of Christ, but we can also if we receive Him worthily. In other words, we become priests to a limited extent. That is what Baptism allows us to become – “Priests, prophets and Kings”– because Christ that we receive in the Holy Body and Blood has these roles. Baptism is needed to qualify to eat and drink the Holy Body and Blood of Christ. This is not simple to imagine or dream about especially by non-Christians and to an extent by non-Catholic and non-Orthodox Christians. This is an incredible privilege and I cannot imagine myself any longer going a day without receiving the Holy Host worthily.
So what we have is a salvation design by God that parallels the Marriage covenant that God designed in the Garden of Eden. In a way, Adam and Eve had two weddings to each other. The first wedding was the exemplary Holy Wedding that gives life. However, when Eve became destined to die and separate from Adam, Adam accepted a difficult choice to permanently marry Eve in a death marriage (second wedding ceremonial), sacrificing his life to keep the Creator’s Design for the permanence of marriage.