What makes Jesus so different - 3

   This is our 3rd study in chapter one of Josh McDowell's book, "More Than A Carpenter".
   Another time Jesus said, "I and the Father are One." (John 10:30) The next verses say, "The Jews took up stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them, 'I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?' The Jews answered Him, 'For a good work we do not stone you, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God.'" (John 10:31-33)The Jews who were there when it happened, believed Jesus claimed to be God! Josh said that A.T. Robertson wrote that the word "One" is neuter in the Greek which means "one in essence or nature"--not in person or purpose! Robertson then adds "This crisp statement is the climax of Christ's claims about the relation between the Father and Himself (the Son). They stir the Pharisees to uncontrollable anger."
   Josh wrote, "It is evident that in the minds of those who heard this statement there was no doubt that Jesus claimed He was God. Thus, Leon Morris, principal of Ridley College, Melbourne, writes that 'the Jews could regard Jesus' word only as blasphemy, and they proceeded to take the judgment into their own hands. It was laid down in the Law that blasphemy was to be punished by stoning (Lev 24:16). But these men were not allowing the due processes of law to take their course. They were not preparing an indictment so that the authorities could take the requisite action. In their fury they were preparing to be judges and executioners in one.'"
   Josh asked, "Did they stop to consider whether His claims were true or not?" He quoted John 8:19 - "If you knew Me, you would know My Father also." John 12:45 - "He who beholds Me, beholds the One Who sent Me." John 15:23 - "He who hates Me, hates My Father also." John 5:23 - "All may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son, does not honor the Father Who sent Him." Josh wrote further, "These references certainly indicate that Jesus looked at Himself as being more that just a man; rather, He was equal with God. Those who say that Jesus was just closer or more intimate with God than others need to think about His statement, 'If you do not honor Me as you honor the Father, you dishonor us both.'"
   Josh mentioned a professor who interrupted his lecture at the U. of W. Va. saying that Jesus only claimed to be God in John's Gospel and it was the last one written, suggesting that the thought of Jesus being God developed over time. He claimed that the earliest written Gospel, Mark, didn't have Jesus claiming to be God. Josh wrote, "It was obvious this man hadn't read Mark--or hadn't paid much attention to what he read. "In response I turned to Mark's Gospel. There Jesus claimed to be able to forgive sins. 'And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, "My son, your sins are forgiven."(Mark 2:5)By Jewish law this was something only God could do; Isaiah 43:25 restricts this prerogative to God alone." The scribes knew that and wondered why Jesus spoke that way since only God could forgive sin. Jesus asked them which was easier to say (truthfully) "Your sins are forgiven, or arise and walk?" To say either truthfully means you must do something only God can do! Josh quoted from the "Wycliffe Commentary", "An imposter, of course, in seeking to avoid detection, would find the former easier. Jesus proceeded to heal the illness that men might know that He had authority to deal with its cause." That cause, in this case, was sin.
   We will probably finish chapter 1 next time.

Sincerely,
Rick

What makes Jesus so different? Continued.

   We continue our study of chapter 1 "What makes Jesus so different?" from Josh McDowell's book "More Than A Carpenter".
   Josh had written, "The New Testament clearly presents Christ as God." We looked at some places in the New Testament where that is true. Yet some say that Jesus never claimed to be God. They certainly don't understand Jewish customs from that time. Those who do understand see many occasions when He did so.
   Jesus accepted ..."honor and worship" meant for God! Even though He told Satan in Matt. 4:10 "It is written, you shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only." "Yet Jesus received worship as God(Matt. 14:33; 28:9) and sometimes even demanded to be worshiped as God (Jn. 5:23; compare Heb. 1:6; Rev. 5:8-14).
   Most of those following Jesus were devout Jews looking for the Messiah-Christ. They believed in one God, but worshiped Jesus as God. Paul (Saul of Tarsus) rejected Jesus' claims until he met Him on the road to Damascus. Josh mentioned Peter's confession of Christ as "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matt. 16:16). Jesus didn't correct him, but told where Peter's revelation came from-Christ's Father in heaven.(vs 17)
   Martha called Jesus "the Christ, the Son of God."(Jn. 11:27) Nathaniel called Him, "the Son of God; You are the King of Israel"(Jn.1:49). Stephen, when dying said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit"(Acts 7:59). At Jesus' baptism a voice from heaven stated, "You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased."(Luke 3:22) In the confession of Thomas, who had expressed firm doubt about His resurrection, he said, "My Lord and my God!" Afterwards, Jesus rebuked Thomas for doubting, but not for his worship.
   Josh wrote, "A businessman who scrutinized the Scriptures to verify whether or not Christ claimed to be God said, 'For anyone to read the New Testament and not conclude that Jesus claimed to be divine, he would have to be as blind as a man standing outdoors on a clear day and saying he can't see the sun.'"
   He also mentioned an incident when Jesus healed a lame man on the Sabbath and Jesus told the man to take up his pallet and walk. He then quoted Jn 5:16-18, "'My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.' For this cause therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God." Then Josh explained why the Jewish leaders were so upset. In their customs and understanding Jesus had claimed to be equal with God. "He (Jesus) made a claim that the Jews could not misinterpret when He called God 'My Father'. Jesus also implied that while God was working, He, the Son, was working, too. Again, the Jews understood the implication that He was God's Son. As a result of this statement, the Jews hatred grew. Even though they were seeking, mainly to persecute Him, they then began to desire to kill Him."
   We will look at more incidents where Christ referred to His deity when we study next time.

Sincerely,
Rick