Have you ever met a man who is the center of attention wherever he goes? Some mysterious, indefinable characteristic sets him apart from all other men. Well, that’s the way it was two thousand years ago with Jesus Christ. But it wasn’t merely Jesus’ personality that captivated those who heard him. Those who witnessed his words and life tell us that something about Jesus of Nazareth was different from all other men.
Jesus’ only credentials were himself. He never wrote a book, commanded an army, held a political office, or owned property. He mostly traveled within a hundred miles of his village, attracting crowds who were amazed at his provocative words and stunning deeds.
Yet Jesus’ greatness was obvious to all those who saw and heard him. And while most great people eventually fade into history books, Jesus is still the focus of thousands of books and unparalleled media controversy. And much of that controversy revolves around the radical claims Jesus made about himself---claims that astounded both his followers and his adversaries.
It was primarily Jesus’ unique claims that caused him to be viewed as a threat by both the Roman authorities and the Jewish hierarchy. Although he was an outsider with no credentials or political powerbase, within three years, Jesus changed the world for the next 20 centuries. Other moral and religious leaders have left an impact---but nothing like that unknown carpenter’s son from Nazareth.
What was it about Jesus Christ that made the difference? Was he merely a great man, or something more?
These questions get to the heart of who Jesus really was. Some believe he was merely a great moral teacher; others believe he was simply the leader of the world’s greatest religion. But many believe something far more. Christians believe that God has actually visited us in human form. And they believe the evidence backs that up.
After carefully examining Jesus’ life and words, former Cambridge professor and skeptic, C. S. Lewis, came to a startling conclusion about him that altered the course of his life. So who is the real Jesus? Many will answer that Jesus was a great moral teacher. As we take a deeper look at the world’s most controversial person, we begin by asking: could Jesus have been merely a great moral teacher?
Greetings Jha Armas
ReplyDeleteThe greatness of Jesus and his credentials is resultant of the fact that Jesus is that man, that Prophet, that Almighty GOD promised to raise up from among Moses' brethren;
whom the ONE GOD would put His words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that the ONE GOD should command him.
Thus Jesus stated:
John 12:48-50 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. 49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.
Jesus goes on to identify his Father
as the only true GOD
[John 17.3]
(as well as identifying Him
as the only GOD
John 5.44)
So, Jesus never ever claimed to be GOD ... no not once!
Otherwise scholars would have supplied the verses which unequivocally show that Jesus is claiming to be Almighty GOD.
Yet alas, they cannot do so, because no such verses exist!
Concerning John 8.58, please see Did Jesus really claim to be God in John 8:58? Or is your translation misleading you?
Jesus is the image of the invisible GOD
[Col 1.15, 2 Cor. 4.4];
as well as Almighty GOD's ultimate Agent.
So to see Jesus is to see the Father; because when we see Jesus in action we are in actuality, seeing the Father in action, working in and through His Son.
When Jesus forgave the man's sins did the believing crowd then believe that he was GOD? NO! Rather ... Matthew 9:8
But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power [authority] unto men.
Please see Jesus forgave sins
How did Jesus raise the dead, calm the storms, or multiply the bread?
Answer:
Acts 2:22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
John 14:10-11 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.
[Also note Martha's words which preceded the resurrection of Lazarus:
John 11:22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.
Note also Jesus' words:
John 11:41-42 ... And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. 42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
Lazarus' resurrection therefore, was the result of the Father hearing the request of what His Son had asked of Him i.e. answer to prayer.
Thus, Lazarus' resurrection had absolutely nothing to do with
Jesus being supposedly Almighty GOD!]
Jesus is not only 'That Prophet' ... yes he is also The Messiah, the Son of GOD, the King of Israel.
ReplyDelete[Matt 16.16, John 1.49]
Yes, all these things make him someone more than any other prophet, however done of these things make him, Almighty GOD!
You said:
"Some argue that Jesus never explicitly said, "I am God." It is true that he never stated the exact words, "I am God." However,
Jesus also never explicitly said, "I am a man," or "I am a prophet."
Hmmm! Not so:
John 8:40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.
Luke 13:31-33 The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee. 32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. 33 Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.
It is obvious that Jesus is speaking of himself.
(Compare also Matt. 13.57, Mark 6.4, Luke 4.24 ... the context shows that Jesus is speaking of himself.)
So regardless of what Bono said; what is more important is what Jesus, our Lord & Master, actually said ... and Jesus never ever said he was GOD incarnate!
Rather he claimed to be the Messiah, the Son of GOD; and even a man!
Look again at John 17.3. Jesus is a Jew! And as such he himself believes in solely ONE GOD, as he explicitly stated in quoting the Shema, Deut 6.4 in Mark 12.28ff. Jesus therefore identifies his Father as the only true GOD. In John 17, Jesus does not say that he always existed with his Father. Rather, he claims do have glory with the Father before the world was.
This is not a claim to have always existed with his Father; anymore than Eph 1.4 stating that GOD hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world; is a claim that the saints have always existed with GOD!!
Thus, just as Eph 1.4 is speaking of the foreordination of the church before the world was; likewise John 17 is speaking of foreordained glory reserved for the Messiah; which Christ is now asking the Father for.
Compare: 1 Peter 1:20 [Christ] 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you
Foreordination is far different from one literally existing before the world was.
Rather, Christ began his existence in the womb of his mother.
[Luke 1.35]
Matt 1.1,18; both speak of the genesis i.e. beginning of Jesus Christ.
As for Philip's statement, again, look at Jesus' reply in John 14.10-11 (above). There is no claim there of being the ONE GOD; but rather, being in the Hebrew GOD and the Hebrew GOD being in him!
Now look at Jesus' prayer for us, who seek to believe and follow Jesus :-
John 17:21-23 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
Are Jesus' disciples therefore the Hebrew God who created the universe? John 14.10-11 & 17.21-23 (cp. 10.30) should clearly answer that!
Concerning 'I AM' please see also
ReplyDeleteIs Jesus the "I AM?"
Concerning The God Of Abraham, please see Acts 3.13 [NASB]
The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him.
Clearly the Apostles did not regard Jesus as the GOD of Abraham but rather they regarded him as:
the servant (cp. Isa 42) of the ONE GOD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of their fathers!
[Also in Matt 22.32, Mark 12.26, Luke 20.37; Jesus does not say that he spoke to Moses; but rather have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God;
Jesus' Jewish audience had solely ONE GOD in mind, and it certainly would not have been Jesus!]
Therefore, Jha Armas, for more info,
I recommend this video:
The Human Jesus
Take a couple of hours to watch it; and prayerfully it will aid you in your quest for truth.
This video also addresses John 8.58, 10.30ff
Yours In Messiah
Adam Pastor