I-76 The four sacrifices by Christ as reflected in the human being and the Gospels

The Four Sacrifices of Christ; Pre-Earthly Deeds of Christ ;The Four Sacrifices of Christ and the Appearance of the Christ in the Etheric; The Cycle of the Year as a Path of Initiation Chap. 2

This chart is deeply esoteric. Those with considerable prior anthroposophical understanding will readily fathom most of it, but others, even those with extensive familiarity with scripture, can scarcely be expected to do so merely from the chart itself. Nevertheless, to those who are prepared and ready, it may well begin to flicker light, which in time could grow into understanding. Indeed, many significant scriptural passages, such, for instance, as the babe leaping in Elizabeth’s womb (Lk 1,44), the “first and second Adam” (Rom 5,12-14; 1 Cor 15,21-22,45,47-49) and the dragon/ Michael conflict (Rev 12), can hardly be understood without these insights.

Steiner tells us that there have been four sacrifices by Christ. The first occurred in Lemuria, the next two in Atlantis, and the fourth (Golgotha) in post-Atlantean times; only the fourth was in the physical realm, the prior ones having been “the three supersensible deeds of Christ.” With the insight of these four sacrifices, we can now extend the tabulation in I-20, as follows:

The following 8-column tabulation is an optional consideration being derived, to a considerable extent, from Tomberg’s FSCace, with the background provided by Steiner especially in FSC and PEDC, and made somewhat more comprehendible by Prokofieff’s CYPI, Chap. 2. Though highly controversial, and perhaps not always reliable, Tomberg’s writings can challenge deep contemplation. The beginning student is justified in jumping over these eight columns, for they may give pause even to the most experienced anthroposophist. And even for that one, it would be helpful to read all of the cited works, for space does not permit adequate elaboration. Among other things it would be well to bear in mind the fractal nature of creation, the concept of the Logos and the Prologue of John’s Gospel, and maybe even thrust back to the misty thought presented halfway through the Appendix to “Three Bodies” below: The Father must have been, as modern sexist-free writing would suggest, androgynous, until divided into the fruitful male-female dualism from which the creative “Word” itself, the Christ or “Son,” went out. (The male “Son,” as well as the female Virgin Sophia, Wisdom [Prov 8,22], were previously “with God” [Jn 1,1-2], indeed, were comprised in God.) I make no claim to inerrancy in this tabulation, but offer it as an attempted crystallization of the several profound works above. I suggest the reader inspect both rank and file, row and column, no title or heading being adequate for any. In doing so, a pattern may seem to take shape in each direction. The four sacrifices of Christ can be seen as reflected therein.

But with or without contemplating the 8 columns, the Earth evolution deeds of Christ can be charted as follows:

While CB (the Christ Being/Son) is not directly reflected in such tabulation, note (from I-7) that the archangelic rank is the chief agency of the Son’s Hierarchy (the 2nd Hierarchy) in Earth evolution.

We then see that immediately after the Christ Spirit enters into Jesus of Nazareth so that he becomes Jesus Christ (JC), he is driven by the evil forces into loneliness (the “Wilderness”), where he is confronted by all the temptations that humanity faces; he overcomes them, thereby harmonizing in the human being all its previous gifts, as follows:

Thus, as is so often true, Steiner’s various descriptions of Christ, which might at first seem contradictory, are resolved as follows: