Was Jesus Made Divine By Humans - Part 6

We have examined now for the last five articles, whether Jesus claimed to be divine, the history behind the concept of the Messiah and whether the Messiah was ever considered to be divine, what history has said about the subject and more. This article is going to focus on one particular thing - whether Jesus was the promised Messiah of God and deserving of the claim and title "Son of God." 

To many followers of the Bible, the answer to this is simple, yet to many others it is not. To them, Jesus is just another in a list of many in a line of people that God has used throughout time, but is nothing more than that. To many, Jesus is just another prophet. To others, he is just another claimant  What sets Jesus apart from these? Is He no different than the rest?

There have been many throughout history that have laid claim to the title "Messiah," some even to calling themselves the "Son of God" throughout history. Going back to the days of the old kings, many of the kings and Pharaohs of ancient time referred to themselves as divine. Yet, as history has borne out, these were all human and nothing in the scope of humanity was changed as a result of what they did. Neither, was anything done as regards man's relationship with God as a result of their rule. Their have been good rulers and bad rulers. But none could offer man anything with respects to immortality or the soul. Even during the time of Jesus, there were several other contenders that made the claim to Messiah. Even the New Testament itself refers to two of these.

Judas of Gamala

1.) Judas of Galilee or Gamala was a man who rose up an armed resistance to the census imposed for Roman tax purposes by Quirinius in Iudaea Province around 6 AD. Josephus records this in his Wars and Antiquities, and is supposed to have been one of the progenitors of the Zealot movement that was alive even in the day of Jesus. He was thought by many to be the Messiah that would lead Israel to victory against Rome, however, he and his revolt were crushed, and even Gamaliel in Acts 5:37 refers to his Messiah-like status. Yet, even Gamaliel's statement shows that concerning that or claiming any divinity, he was a failure and considered such according to historical record.

2.) Theodeus was another man that arose after Jesus, around 44 A.D. He made claim to be the Messiah, able to work miracles, and even claimed to be divine. Josephus mentions him as well as does Acts 5. Again, while making a lot of noise and trouble for a lot of people, his rebellion was shot down and stifled by Rome, with Theodeus himself being beheaded. The movement quietened and disappeared.

Others have come after Jesus as well. Buddha, Mohammad, even into our own day, Mahatma Ghandi, and others that have arisen to Messiah-like status. Yet, none of these claimed to be divine. All movers and shakers of sorts, but human in every aspect.

How and why is Jesus any different? What makes him apart from the crowd? There are several things that separate him from the crowd. 

• Jesus DID claim to be Divine and the "Son of God."  
• Jesus is the ONLY one of the claimants, to state that He would raise from the dead. He is also the ONLY one to have witnesses that saw, testified, and gave their lives to state that this was the truth.
• Jesus is also the ONLY of the claimants, that claimed to have the remedy of man's sin that separates him from God (Jn.3:16). 

Now the question is, if you believe the accounts given where He did these things.  Because if He did as He claimed, then there is NO comparison to any of the others - He IS the One and there is NO other.

I think God has said it best concerning Jesus, 

"This is my beloved Son, 

with whom I am well pleased; 

listen to him.." (Mt17:5)

If you disagree...that's ok. I'll let you argue with God because He is the one you will have to answer to. If Jesus isn't what He says He is - then I'm just another nutcase.

Jim