Religious Debate Part One: Is Jesus the Messiah?

"Now, we shall begin the religious debate. Permission to speak is granted to Lord Raquel, Lord Frois, and Lord Ryosai only. All others shall carefully observe this religious debate. I intend to hear each of your reflections at a later date from this Nobunaga."

Ten days after Raquel faced Nobunaga. In the same audience chamber, Nobunaga makes this declaration. The tatami mats and sliding doors stained with Orsanti's blood had all been replaced, leaving no trace of that gruesome violence. It remains etched only in the hearts of those who were present that day.

"Here is the first topic. Is Jesus God or not?"

At the end of Nobunaga's gaze as he poses this question are Lorenzo Ryosai and Frois. Nobunaga addresses the two of them.

"The religious debate of ten years ago. I remember it well. In the debate with High Priest Nichijo, you claimed that the Four Elements fundamental to Buddhism - the belief that all things in this world arise from earth, water, fire, and wind, and ultimately return to the Four Elements - was deception. And you stated that the Deus you believe in governs all things in this world yet has no form and cannot be seen.

However, according to Lord Raquel's account, the priest called Jesus whom you revere is the incarnation of Deus. Jesus is a Christian monk, is he not? A visible human being. Or is Jesus not human? On what grounds can you claim that this Jesus is the incarnation of Deus? Explain this clearly."

Having said this much, Nobunaga now turns toward Raquel to address him.

"I would like to begin with this question of mine. Lord Raquel. Is this acceptable?"

Raquel prostrates himself before Nobunaga and answers respectfully.

"Lord Nobunaga's inquiry strikes at the very essence of the matter. I could hardly have any objection. However, if I may be permitted to add something, please allow me a brief statement."

"Say whatever you wish. That is what religious debate is for."

Upon hearing these words, Raquel bows deeply to Nobunaga once again.

"As I mentioned previously, we Jews and Christians both worship Deus as our God. And as I explained, Christians regard the monk called Jesus as a manifestation of God, while we Jews do not think so. However, there is a prelude to this story.

First, what you must understand is that Jesus was a Jew. Jesus was a Jew who grew up by a lake north of our homeland Israel. However, he began to question those teachings. It happened that during this time, while we Jewish people had not yet lost our country, we were constantly exposed to hardships. The nation was divided by internal strife, and there were periods when many Jews were taken captive. Under such circumstances, we Jews came to believe that if we continued to observe God's commandments even amid these difficulties, a savior would someday appear.

This savior is called, in our language, the Messiah, or Christ. However, according to our teachings, the Messiah who will someday appear is a descendant of the great ancient Israeli King David - a human being. He is destined to appear bearing God's mission, but he is not God."

Having heard Raquel's explanation to this point, Nobunaga's eyes gleam brilliantly as he breaks into a smile.

"Hmm. Say no more. I shall demonstrate my insight. That Jesus, while criticizing your Jewish teachings, came to claim that he was that Messiah, did he not? No, you said the other day that those around him elevated him to that status. In other words, those around him made a commotion claiming that this Jesus was indeed the Messiah."

"Your insight is exactly correct. At least, that is my belief. At that time, our homeland had become a tributary state of a great empire. The provincial governor sent by the empire, fearing civil unrest, executed Jesus. As for what happened afterward, it would lack fairness for me to speak of it. I would like you to hear it from Lord Ryosai and Lord Frois."

"I understand. Now, Lord Frois. It is your turn. Let me change the topic of our religious debate slightly."

Having said this much, Nobunaga pauses and breathes deeply. Then, deliberately opening the fan in his left hand, he raises it high above his head and announces the beginning of the debate.

"Is the monk Jesus the Christ or not? Now, answer!"

Luis Frois had been listening to the exchange between Nobunaga and Raquel without so much as stirring. However, as it progressed, the fear, anxiety, and irritation that had initially shown in his eyes completely disappeared. In their place, his eyes now held calmness and conviction.

Is Jesus the Christ? How dare they present such an absurd argument to us! We Christians have been saving these pitiful souls who refuse to believe for fifteen hundred years now.

He must choose his words carefully to avoid incurring Lord Nobunaga's wrath. However, there would be tremendous significance in successfully guiding this pitiful heretic to Jesus's teachings here and now.

If he could convert this female doctor to the Gospel here, Lord Nobunaga would witness the truth of Jesus firsthand. That might even become a decisive turning point in the struggling missionary work in Japan. I shall do it!

With this thought in his heart, Frois quietly opens his mouth.

"I humbly accept, Lord Nobunaga. Jesus is the savior, namely Christ, and God himself. If I cannot demonstrate this, then I am no Christian. Let me begin with what Lord Raquel has stated.

Lord Raquel claims that Jesus was killed by people of the ancient empire. But was it not you Jews who arranged for this! You were terrified that Jesus's words struck at the truth. So you had Rome kill him! Forgive me. Rome is the empire that Lord Raquel speaks of. And most importantly, as proof that Jesus is a manifestation of God, he was resurrected into this world after that tragic crucifixion. If Jesus were merely human, resurrection after death would be impossible!"

Raquel immediately counters.

"Were there truly those who witnessed the resurrection? Those who claimed to see it were all insiders. It was merely the clamoring of surrounding believers. Or perhaps in their devotion they saw visions. You people spread tales of the dead coming back to life and claim that those who do not believe such things will fall into hell. Your teachings are what is truly dangerous!

Moreover, if Jesus were truly the Messiah, then all people in this world should already be freed from all suffering. Yet the people of this world still writhe in hardship and tribulation. This fact alone proves that Jesus cannot be the Christ."

"Foolish! Because you have drowned in the sea of legal interpretation and closed your eyes to truth, you cannot see the reality of Jesus's resurrection and ascension, nor understand the true words of God that Jesus spoke!"

"How absurd! God is absolute and eternal. Indivisible and invisible. God would never appear in this world by borrowing human flesh! If God borrowed human flesh and took form, would that not be idolatry! And calling it the Gospel, humans arbitrarily fabricate God's words and neglect the immutable law given as commandments. Moreover, to make people who cannot read and therefore cannot study the law believe stories of the dead coming back to life is utterly outrageous! The law is a commandment that permits absolutely no alteration, not even a single word or phrase! Yet you people claim that because Jesus died bearing all the sins of the world's people, there is no longer any need to observe the law. It would indeed be troublesome to gain believers if you required them to observe tedious daily laws. Ah, what a convenient story!

That is not all! You spread tales that Jesus turned water into wine, stones into bread, walked on the surface of Lake Galilee, and brought back to life a daughter who had died of illness. And you claim that all who cannot believe in such miracles performed by Jesus will fall into hell. In my view, such outlandish stories are impossible to believe!

But you people are truly skillful. The sound of organs echoing in beautiful churches. The lovely singing voices of innocent boys layered upon it. Beautiful light streaming through stained glass. Ingenious devices to make the common people, who know no letters and cannot read the scriptures, believe in miracles. Truly magnificent! However, we Jewish people have the law. Therefore we are never deceived by such deceptions!"

"Your pitiful heart, which cannot believe in the wonderful miracles that Jesus performed, is what is truly afflicted. That is why you cannot be saved! You may be somewhat competent as a doctor. But the one who judges human souls and life and death in this world is Deus alone! You may think you cured patients yourself, but ultimately it is merely God's will. Have you not, in overconfidence in your own knowledge and skills, come to make light of great God's power? That arrogant attitude of yours, claiming you cannot believe in the miracles Jesus performed, reveals this! It is precisely because people believe in miracles that they can set sail across great oceans without fear. It is what enables them to move forward!"

The expression of Nobunaga, who had been silently listening to the debate between the two, suddenly becomes stern.

"Hmm. Frois. What you just said is somewhat intolerable. Today is a religious debate. As long as there is no disrespect, I will not strike you, much less cut you down. However, I am one whose life was saved by Lord Raquel's medical arts. Are you saying that your Deus deliberately sent this person, who does not believe that Jesus is a manifestation of God, to me to save my life?"

"Lord Nobunaga. If there has been any discourtesy, I deeply apologize. However, that is exactly right. By having this female doctor help save Lord Nobunaga's life, Deus provided this opportunity for dialogue. God has prepared an opportunity to open the eyes of this unfortunate soul."

Upon hearing this, Nobunaga says nothing, looking down and staring at the tatami while scratching his head. In his hand, he grips a closed fan decorated with elegant Kano paintings. Nobunaga occasionally taps the back of his head with it.

"Hmm. Then let me ask one more thing. Suppose you could not have found this foreign doctor. Even so, if you were commanded to cure this Nobunaga, what would you have done? Can you perform miracles like the monk Jesus? Did you cure me with such miracles?"

Frois answers calmly, without agitation or confusion.

"I am not one in whom God's spirit dwells. I cannot perform miracles. Only the Pope at the summit of our Catholic faith, or saints, can harbor God's spirit and perform miracles in this world. However, I prayed earnestly to God for Lord Nobunaga's safety. That I can speak with Lord Nobunaga here now is proof, I believe, that those prayers reached God."

From among the retainers in the audience chamber, murmurs and voices of bewilderment arise once again.

"What is this? In the end, it all comes down to prayers to Deus? That is no different from the damned monks of Mount Hiei. When my father fell ill, the Buddhist fools all said to pray to the gods and Buddha. And they repeated strange ceremonies in most pompous fashion, praying for a full month. Yet my father died easily. Since then, I have not believed in such things as prayer. And what is this about saints in whom spirits dwell? Are there other humans besides the monk Jesus who can perform these miracles? Are not these humans in whom spirits dwell also the idols that you so despise? For they have form."

"Jesus and the saints are not idols. God the Father. Jesus the Son. And the Spirit of God. These unite as one to form God himself."

From among the retainers, voices of clear bewilderment arise again.

"Frois. It is fortunate that Nichijo was not here today. He died several years ago. If he were alive and present here today, he would again have brandished my sword and said: slice open that saint's belly and show us this spirit!"

Having said this much, Nobunaga takes his tea cup and drinks a sip to moisten his throat.

"I understand. You people believe that, no matter what. To dispute that is not the aim of religious debate. However, let me say one thing. As a ruler, I realize there is something I must say. Your power to believe utterly. That can indeed be useful. Particularly, it would be perfect for confronting the misguided warrior monks. Moreover, foreign trade is necessary. I will continue to not prohibit Christian missionary work. However!"

He cuts off his words there, and the eyes that fix on Frois from behind the fan with Kano paintings suddenly become those of the Demon King of the Sixth Heaven.

"If the people of your country manipulate that faith to deceive the people of this land and make them take up swords and draw bows against this Nobunaga, then all of you will be slaughtered. Never even dream of using that power of belief to steal this country. Within your Christian faith lies an intense thirst that seeks infinite expansion without cease. If you attempt to steal this country with that power, I will destroy you along with Deus. Just as I did Mount Hiei."

(Just as I did Mount Hiei.)

Upon hearing those words, Frois is seized by violent palpitations and trembles throughout his body. Even Frois, who regarded Buddhist monks as enemies, shuddered at that massacre as the work of demons. If that Nobunaga says slaughter, it means literal slaughter. There is no room for interpretation.

"I swear by God that such a thing will never happen."

Frois squeezes out just these words and then maintains silence. The memory of his first meeting with Nobunaga resurfaces in Frois's mind. The scene where a man who had assaulted a woman at the castle construction site was instantly cut down by Nobunaga, his blood spray glittering in the sunlight. Frois has never forgotten it for a moment. Having observed Frois's state, Nobunaga nods slightly and looks at Raquel again.

"Now, Lord Raquel. I would like to hear a bit more about the Jewish teachings you believe in. Is that acceptable?"

"If it is something I can answer, gladly."