… and he began to teach them.
Summary: The weird truth about Jesus is that he also happens to be God.
There are many “teachers” out there, but not all teachings are true. So, who is Jesus, and why should we listen to his teachings?
As it turns out, the answer to this simple-sounding question is not so simple. Jesus is, if you are willing to accept it, God himself (John 10:30). “Wait a minute!” might be a reasonable response. “How can a man be God?”
This was the question that made it so difficult for the Pharisees to accept Jesus as the Messiah (John 6: 42). And this brings us to the question, “Who gets to define God?” Who determines what God will look like, how he will sound, or what he will say? Who decides if God is a “he,” a “she,” or an “it?” Who determines what God can or cannot do?
I was talking with a friend the other day, and they raised the old conundrum, “How could a loving God… [do this or that]?” In his case, he had lost his mother when he was a young child, and his question was heartfelt. How could a loving God leave him and his two young brothers without a mother?
But what if we flip the question around? What if we state the proposition this way:
“A loving God would never [by our definition] leave a young child without a mother. In fact, a loving God would never allow suffering of any kind.”
That is different, isn’t it?
I just lost a mother who was ninety-two years old. Is that any easier than losing a mother who is twenty-seven? Maybe, but it still hurts. It still causes suffering.
If we were God and we were determined that as a loving God, we would never allow suffering, then nobody would ever get sick or die. That would make sure everyone was happy, right?
Well, no.
It turns out that it doesn’t work that way, either. We can cause each other suffering by being alive even more effectively than if we are taken away in death. People hurt each other all the time, even when they don’t mean to.
God understands this, and he knows we don’t understand it. Why is this so?
The answer seems to be one of perspective. God’s perspective is different from ours. He sees us as both physical and spiritual beings. We look for God in the physical realm, but we can only “see” him spiritually. Since we are sight-impaired spiritually (1 Corinthians 13:12), God became a man so that we can really see who he is.
Does this help? Only if we are willing to believe. As Jesus explains to Nicodemus:
“I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.” (John 3: 12-13)
Jesus knows what he is talking about. He came from this place called “heaven.” Not only has he seen the Father (John 6: 46), but he is himself God (John 1:18).
Weird, I know. Yet, somehow, true.
Application: If you have been waiting to hear from God, reading or listening to the words of Jesus is a great place to start.
Food for Thought: How does knowing that Jesus is God impact the way we understand what he says?
If He is God, then He is the source of truth and all knowledge. So it places an authority on His teachings. His teachings then trump all other teachings on any subject He addresses. His teachings are authoritative and useful for our lives.
2 Timothy 3; 14 – 17: But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the servant of God a may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Thank you, Rich!
Nicely said. 🙂
How does knowing that Jesus is God impact the way we understand what he says?
Rich’s thought was my first thought too. 😉
His words reveal to us the nature and character of God. His words reveal God’s intention for us. Knowing that Jesus is God we can see that the Father loves us, and that He is showing us the way to life eternal with Him and through Him.
John 14:18-21 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”
Chris,
Yes! Jesus “reveals” God. That is a mind-blowing concept.
Thank you!
How does knowing that Jesus is God impact the way we understand what he says?
Galatians 2:20, I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Through Jesus Christ we receive the Holy Spirit who is the power given to all believers to understand and apply the word of God into our lives.
1.) Isaiah 7:15-16, Indicates, there is an age of accountability known only by God.
Isaiah 7:15-16, He will be eating curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, 16 for before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste.
2.) God, in the power of the Holy Spirit is revealing sin, righteousness and coming judgement to all mankind. Truth is reveled to all, and all who receive His truth receive eternal life
John 16:8, When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment.
John 16:13-15, But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.
Thanks, Ron!
I like the connection you point out with the Holy Spirit. God’s Spirit makes it possible for us to recognize God’s authority.