The question under consideration for this article, is whether the Messiah was ever promised to be Divine, and if Jesus is the Messiah, whether He ever claimed to be Divine? Psalm 110 spoke initially to this as we have seen in the previous post. It was God Himself, that said that the Messiah would "Sit at His Right Hand." Yet, there is another prophesy that speaks to this and introduces one called the "Son of Man" coming to the Ancient of Days (God) and being given an eternal Kingdom made up of all nations. Of course, this is the prophesy of Dan.7:13,14.
- Set by God upon the throne of His Kingdom
- Declared by God to be His "Son"
- Is described as the "begotten" of God.
We have seen that Jesus was not made Divine by Humans, but now the question arises as to whether Jesus ever claimed to be Divine? The Psalms and Daniel very definitely state that the Messiah is one instilled by God and one whom God calls "His Son." Daniel's "Son of Man" is recognized by scholars Jewish and otherwise, to be the Messiah. Even the Samaritan in John 4 said that this was taught to her by her circles (John 4). Notice her statement, "The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias comes, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.(Jn.4:25)." What you specifically want to notice here is Jesus' response in vs.26, "Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he."(vs.26) Jesus DEFINITELY stated here, that He is the Messiah that was to come. That was the way that SHE understood it.
Messiah is one thing, but Divine?
Yet, to many, it is one thing to claim to be the Messiah, and another to claim to be divine. The next article will focus Messiahs, and what set Jesus apart in a world that had them then, and even has them now. But for this article, the question is whether Jesus ever claimed to be Divine?
The first question to ask ourselves here, is what does it mean to claim to be divine? One can be sent by God and called an Angel, Messenger, Prophet, Evangelist. Yet, to refer to oneself as Divine, means to place oneself in God's realm, to say that you are God. A statement that threw the Jewish leadership into a violent tizzy in Jesus' day is in Jn 8:56-58. Jesus here made the statement, "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad." They then wondered how Jesus who hadn't even turned 50 years old, could have seen Abraham who had died some 2500 years before Jesus was even born. Jesus then makes a very remarkable statement, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am." There are a couple of of interesting things in this statement that we need to observe:
- "Before Abraham Was" - is an obvious statement that before Abraham existed. Before 2500 years ago. That is a statement!
- "I Am" - in Greek is "ego emi" It is a simple statement, yet for the audience familiar with the Old Testament it is the same statement found in Ex.3:14. The Jewish audience understood it this way to. I AM is "I Exist" - it is the name of God.
- What is interesting, is the audience's hostile reaction to the statement that Jesus makes. They regarded Jesus' statement as blasphemous. What is blasphemy? To speak profanely about God (i.e., curse God), or to claim to be God.
The Healed Blind Man
Now the question, is there any other evidence that Jesus claimed to be divine outside of this verse? It is clear that the apostles themselves understood him to be or thought that he was. Yet, there is another instance in John 9:33-37. Jesus healed a blind man who was chided by the Jewish authority for stating simply that Jesus was From God. After they cast him out of the hearing, Jesus found him. He asked a simple question, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?" This is definitely an allusion to the Psalms and Daniel that we had seen previously. The man answered, "Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?" Jesus answers, "You have both seen him, and it is he that talks with you."
Thomas' Explicative
After the Resurrection, Thomas (called doubting Thomas by history) says that he will not believe that Jesus is risen until he can touch him, touch the wounds and prove that it is him. When he does, his statement is explication! John 20:28 "My Lord and My God." Thomas states that he no longer doubted, Jesus was the Son of God!
The Father and The Holy Spirit
The Father and the Spirit state such in Mt.3:17, Lk.2:10; 3:21.
Yet, Jesus Himself stated it best, 'If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead (Lk.16:31).' You either believe based upon the evidence or you don't. What does the evidence say to you? If Jesus is Divine as He claims and you give your life to Him, then eternal life is what He promises you in turn, and the only thing you have to lose is not living a worldly sinful life. If you choose not to believe? Well, that is up to you. Are you willing to live with the consequences if your choice is wrong?
Jim
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