The Benefits Group
Some Gospel passages tell us about meeting-confrontations that Jesus had with the three main hierarchical lines of that time: the people's elders, as to say the people's leaders, the priests of the temple, as to say the keepers of the knowledge of biblical laws, and finally the scribes, the technicians, the biblical scholars. These three lines of power had different ideologic origins but in reality belong to the same group as they were united by the same goal: utilizing everything they were connected to or managed, every responsability and power, service and authority for personal benefit.
Those belonging to this group have undergone a perverse treatment consisting in emptying their identity turning them into dependent tools without discernment making them seek positions of power for social and economic benefit. Although the group that turns everything to its own advantage does not have a proper leader or constitution, its members move and act everywhere contemporaneously in the world in perfect accord with one another. All of the benefits acquired by each one contributes to strengthen and to reinforce the group's right to achieve their own benefits at the expense of and above and beyond any law, justice, equity and common wellbeing.
Jesus had many occasions to meet the stubborn, insidious individuals belonging to this group, although he never dealt with their intelligence and personalities directly, because of the hopeless clash with some of the main principles by which these individuals are entirely ruled: untouchable dogmas, slogans, mottos, established political and religious conventions convalidated a priori. Intelligence is rarely possible in the minds of those who belong to the Benefits Group as they are allergic to common sense and wisdom, and there are short circuits in their mental and psychic processes. Jesus himself often used to call them: fools, stupids, dull-brainded (Matthew 19:8; 23, 17 Luke 11: 40; 24: 25), because their intelligence, dedicated to the enemy, was easily dominated by the group itself and the illusion of personal profit. Insanity and obliteration of the personality need the group: they are possible only in the group, and in fact they are fixed and mandatory rules of the group. It was the obscene, insane force of the group that handed Jesus over to violent, ferocious evil people whose hands were stained with innocent blood provoking inconceivable pain. To achieve its goals the group often needs evil people and the violent hand of armies. But there is a difference: evil, violent people sometimes rest, they sometimes pause when they are drunk with blood and screaming: but the members of the group never pause, never need rest.
Along the road Jesus met many unhappy men and women, sinners, violent, evil people, and with his extraordinary grace, gentleness, patience, wisdom, kindness, and mercy he succeeded many times to turn their lives around, to change (metanoia) their lives in the direction of happiness, peace and light of the soul. But he never succeeded with the members of the group who cannot be relaxed, or helped to find wisdom, light, mercy. Those belonging to the group immediately recognize who can be of benefit to them and who cannot. It has no doubts, it does not hesitate, it does not make mistakes. The group members know that Jesus is not of benefit to them, and that, instead, he is dangerous for thwm. Maybe someday, if he is properly modified, He could be useful, but not now. Members of the Benefits Group are sometimes confused or silenced for a moment when they see Jesus but they are never never moved or neutral.
The Benefits Group cannot, however, get their hands on one particular, ultimate benefit.
Jesus had to struggle a lot with the members of the group in order to give us back our light, salvation, and wisdom. He received from them only pain and humiliation and was finally forced to pay with His own death, but no one succeeded in taking his being or his soul. Since the time Eve was tempted the Group has grown exceedingly and easily but it has succeeded only in selling its own soul and in being a mock image of itself. What profit does a man have who earns the entire world yet loses or forfeits himself? (verse 25, literal translation from the Greek).