UNIQUENESS OF JESUS
CHRIST
Who did Jesus Christ Himself claim to be (according to the
following passages)? And what is so
unique about His claim in comparison to all the other great world’s religious
leaders, such as Buddha, Muhammed, Confucius,
Zoroaster, etc.?
Lk. 22:70 (Mk. 14:61; Matt. 26:63, 64) What was Jesus’ reply to the council of the elders’ question as to whether He was the Son of God?
Matt. 27:43 What did the chief priests, scribes, and elders quote Jesus as having said about Himself?
[The
phrase, “Son of God”, as used by Jesus Christ or in reference to Christ in His
relationship to God is used in a very special sense, as that of a “unique” Son
of God. In Jn. 3:16, 18; 1 Jn. 4:9 the
word “begotten” means a unique, unoriginated relationship; an eternal
relationship; one Who represents the Being and character of God – Jn. 1:14.
Besides
the normal, customary uses of the word “son” (Heb. “ben”
and Gk. “huios”) meaning “male offspring” or
“descendant” (rather than immediate offspring), the word “son” can be/is used
idiomatically and figuratively (Dr. Larry Richards, Expository Dictionary of
Bible Words, p. 572).
An
idiom is an expression in the usage of a language that is peculiar in having a
meaning that cannot be derived from the conjoined meaning of its elements (Webster’s
New Collegiate Dictionary, p. 563).
A
metaphor is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase literally denoting one
kind of object or idea is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or
similarity between them. For example,
the ship “plows” the sea (Webster’s, p. 716). A quality or name is
attributed to something to which it is not literally applicable (e.g., an “icy”
glance, nerves of “steel”) – (New Lexicon Webster’s Dictionary of the
English Language, p. 628).
“Son of” indicates that the person or thing so
described stands in some relation to the object mentioned after the phrase “son
of”. That relation may be one of
quality, resemblance, derivation, destiny, etc. (Dr. William Hendriksen, New
Testament Commentary – Luke, p. 587).
Characteristics
of persons or groups, or a spiritual relationship can be/are expressed by the
phrase “son of” (Richards, p. 572).
“Son”
is often used metaphorically of prominent moral characteristics, or to describe
characteristics other than moral (W. Vine, Drs. M. Unger, and W. White, An
Expository Dictionary of Bible Words, “NT”, p. 1060).
Basically
then the phrase “son(s) of” means that the person (people) is (are) similar to
or like (in some way) the object/person he (they) are/is the “son(s) of”.
First
then, what does “sons of God” mean?
Depending upon the context, it has different meanings.
In
Genesis 6:2, 4 “sons of God” refers to heavenly beings or angels. The Hebrew
expression “bene Elohim” is
used consistently of angels in the Old Testament (e.g., Job 1:6; 2:1), of
fallen angels (1 Ki. 22:19-23; 1 Sam. 16:14-16, 21-23) that can possess human
bodies as can good angels (Gen. 19:1, 5) and can therefore have sexual
relations in marriage (Matt. 22:30 doesn’t nullify this argument, since it only
deals with bodiless angels of God in heaven); it’s the best or only way of
accounting for the Nephilim (“gigantes” of mixed
human and angelic birth, from the Septuagint, which is the Greek translation of
the Hebrew Old Testament); and it’s the only exegesis/interpretation of the
breaking down of God-ordained orders of angels found in such passages as 2 Pet.
2:4, 5 and Jude 1:6, that will satisfy its scope (Unger’s Bible Handbook,
p. 48).
In
light of the facts and the accurate rendering of the words of the text, we
conclude that these “sons of God” were men of the heavenly group/angels or
messengers (Drs. C. Pfeiffer & E. Harrison, The Wycliffe Bible
Commentary, p. 12). The “sons of
God” were not divine but demon-controlled (Drs. J. Walvoord & R. Zuck, The
Bible Knowledge Commentary, “OT”, p. 36).
In
the New Testament, “sons of God” or “children of God” (e.g., Rom. 8:14, 16;
3:25, 26; 4:5-7; Jn. 1:12, 13; 11:52; 1 Jn. 3:1, 2) means believers in Jesus
Christ as Savior/Messiah, as seen from the context of these passages (also
Walvoord & Zuck, The Bible Knowledge Commentary, “NT”, p. 601).
In
Lk. 20:36 “sons of God” means like God being immortal (Hendriksen, New
Testament Commentary – Luke, p. 906, Drs. Jamieson, Fausset, & Brown, Commentary
on the Whole Bible, p. 1019).
Primarily,
“the Son of God” is a title expressing the deity of the Lord Jesus as
distinguished from His humanity – Jn. 10:33, 36;
Though
the title “Son of God” can refer to a relationship (e.g., Lk.
Jn.
What did stating this claim make Jesus (or what did it mean)?
How do you know (Lev. 24:16)?
[“Blasphemy”
is giving the attributes of God to a creature – which is what the Jews accused
Jesus of doing. The Jews from ancient
times have interpreted the command of Lev. 24:16, as prohibiting the utterance
of the name “Jehovah” (Lord or Self-existent One) and reading for it “Adonai” (Master) or “Elohim” (God
or one supreme deity or Creator).
Blasphemy can also mean attributing some evil to God or denying Him some
good which we should attribute to Him – Lev. 24:11; Rom.
Jn.
[Jesus’
response not only reaffirmed His eternal, timeless, absolute essence, which is
an attribute that only God has, but also identified Him as being one in essence
with Jehovah God of the Old Testament, Who also said that He is “I Am” – Ex.
3:13, 14). He designated Himself by this
name as absolute God (“I AM”).].
Jn. 10:30-38 Who did Jesus say He is in verse 30?
[The word
“one” (“ev” in Greek), which was the original
language that the New Testament was written in, means “one in inner essence or
substance” – see Jn. 1:1, 14, 18; 5:18).
Jesus was one in omnipotence with God the Father, vss. 28, 29; no one
could snatch believers from either one.].
Why did the Jews take up stones to stone Jesus (Lev.
24:16 and see Jn.
And what did they say Jesus made Himself out to be?
What were Jesus’ blasphemous words (vs. 36)?
[The OT Law
called certain men gods. It used this
title with reference to human rulers or judges (Psa. 82: 1, 2, 6; 2 Chron.
19:6; Ex. 22:8), because they represented divine justice, as they were invested
with a certain divinity of status as His representatives; and the Word of God
had come to them, and Scripture is absolutely indestructible – inspired,
infallible, and authoritative – it can’t be broken (has no errors). Jesus, on the other hand, is Himself the Word
of God – Jn. 1:1, 14, 18. Though the Judges had an important task, Jesus even more so,
because He was sanctified (set apart by/for God) and sent into the world to be
the Savior. Therefore, if these
Jews didn’t protest when “human” judges were called gods (because they functioned
as rulers, administrators of God’s justice), why should they protest and say
Jesus is blaspheming when He says that He is (God the Son or) the Son of God,
vs. 36 – especially since He qualified, as demonstrated through His miraculous
birth, perfect life, miracles, and fulfillment of scores of prophesies?].
What else did Jesus say to describe His relationship to God the Father (vs. 38b)?
[There is
identity of works, for there is one essence/being.].
Phil. 2:5, 6 What was Jesus Christ’s attitude or thoughts regarding His standing with or relationship to God, the Father?
[Though Jesus was God, He didn’t regard His equality with God the
Father and the splendors of being in heaven in the fullness of His glory a
thing to be grasped/held on to, but was willing to
come to earth in the form of a man.].
Jn. 14:9, 10 What did Jesus tell Philip about seeing Himself and the Father?
[Jesus is the
visible representation or expression (Heb. 1:1-3) of the invisible God (Col.
1:15). Jesus is God in a human body and
thereby expresses the very nature of God; His essence and glory in bodily form].
Matt. 16:13-17 When Jesus asked His disciples who people thought He, the Son of Man, is, what was their reply, especially Peter’s reply (vs. 16)?
Did Jesus agree with Peter’s reply? If so, how?
[As
we saw in the footnote under Matt. 27:43, to say that you are the Son of God
is, to say that you are God; Jn. 10:33, 36].
Matt. 11:25-27 What did Jesus call the Lord of heaven and earth?
[Remember that
even Jesus’ enemies interpreted this to mean that He was claiming equality with
God – Jn.
Who does Jesus say by His relationship to God, He is (vs. 27)?
[The fact that
the word “Son” is now used instead of “Me”, shows that
what is being revealed here is the inner relation between Father and Son, a
relation that existed from all eternity – Jn. 1:1, 14.].
What exclusive relationship do they have?
[“To know” (epignosis) here means experientially knows or thoroughly
knows. A higher claim to equality with
God cannot be conceived.].
Mk. 10:32-34 In explaining to His disciples what was going to happen to Him, what did Jesus call Himself (vs. 33)?
[The phrase
“Son of Man” is a term like the “Son of God” which is now theologically chiefly
associated with Christ in both the Old and New Testaments. Christ employed this
expression to designate Himself some 80 times.
It portrays Him as the Representative Man. Its primary significance is that of His perfect
humanity, from heaven – 1 Cor. 15:47.
The “Son of Man: is thus our Lord’s racial name – Matt. 9:6, as the “Son
of David” is distinctly His Jewish name – Matt. 1:1, and the “Son of God” His
divine name – Matt. 8:29. This term, “Son of Man” is uniformly used of Christ
in connection with His mission – Lk.
The NT in its English
translation plainly teaches that Jesus Christ is the second Person of the
Triune God, possessing the same essence as God the Father. It is interesting to know that a rule of
Greek grammar brings out the same truth.
The rule is as follows: When two nouns in the same case (e.g., nominative case or the case showing
it’s the subject of the sentence) are connected by the Greek word (for the English word) “and”, and the
first noun is preceded by the article “the”, and the second noun is not
preceded by the article, the second noun refers to the same person or thing to
which the first noun refers, and is a further description of it.
In 2 Pet. 1:1 the
expression, “God and our Savior Jesus Christ”, where the same construction
occurs, and the same rule of grammar applies.
Solid ground for correct translation and interpretation is found in a
careful application of the rules of Greek grammar. The inspired writers of the New Testament
held to the grammar of the international Greek spoken throughout the Roman
world. Only in that way could they
expect to be correctly understood. Thus,
Greek grammar testifies that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Jehovah of the OT, and Deity,
the God of the NT. The apostles
uniformly testify that Jesus Christ is God, and this is just another example of
their statements challenging the Imperial Cult of the Caesar. The translation should read, “through the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus
Christ”. The Roman emperor was recognized by his subjects as their god and
their savior. Peter tells us that Jesus
Christ is the God and the Savior of Christians.
In Titus
– Wuest’s Word Studies in the Greek New Testament, vol. 3, pp. 31-33.
Who did others say
Jesus Christ is (according to the following passages)? And what is so unique about their claims in comparison
to what the people during the life of other great world’s religious leaders
said about their religious leader at that time?
Matt.
So Who was with the human race
in the Person of this new child when He was born?
Matt. 14:22, 33 Who worshipped Jesus, and what were they certain about?
Mk. 5:2, 6-8 What
was the unclean spirit’s (demon’s) thoughts as to Whom Jesus is (vs. 7)?
Mk.
Jn.
Jn. 19:7 Who did the Jews understand Jesus to make Himself out to be?
[Son of God equals God,
Jn. 20:25-28 Who did Thomas (the one doubting disciple of Jesus) exclaim
Jesus to be?
Col. 2:9 Who
does Paul (who met Jesus Christ on the road to
What does this mean (see Col. 1:15; Heb. 1:1-3 for
help)?
Heb. 1:8, 9 Who
does God, the Father say Jesus, His Son is?
[Jesus Christ is
both fully God and fully man – though without sin – and as such, God, the
Father is the God of the man, Jesus.]
1 Jn.
What did Jesus claim
about Himself, through exposing Himself with this question (according to the
following passage)? And what is so
unique about Jesus’ question and its implicated claim, especially in light of
the people’s failure to answer it? And
how does this compare to what other great world’s religious leaders said about
themselves in this same area?
Jn.
What
was His audience’s response to that question (vs. 48)?
[If you had asked that question in the midst of a
group of enemies, new friends, and close friends, would any of those people
have been able to find sin in your life?
Can you see how these people’s inability to find and state any sin in
Jesus’ life confirms His claim to sinlessness?]
What did others state
about Jesus (according to the following passages)? And what is so unique about their claims in
comparison to the claims of those who knew the other great world’s religious
leaders?
2 Cor.
Heb.
1 Pet.
1 Jn. 3:5 What does John say
that was in Jesus Christ?
What attributes (that
which God has in any way revealed as being true of Himself or simply, just how
God is) does Jesus Christ have that are true only of God (in the following
passages)?
1.
____________________.
Jn. 1:1, 2, 14, 18 When
was the Word – Jesus Christ – already in existence?
[“In the
beginning” means beyond the beginning of creation in time to eternity – see Jn.
17:5, 24.]
Jn.
[“I Am” is in
the present indicative tense. The
thought conveyed is not only that Jesus was already in existence by this time –
Col. 1:17 – but also that His existence transcends time.].
Micah 5:2 (Lk.
2:4-11) When were Jesus’ goings
forth from?
Rev. 22:13 (
[The three pairs of titles given all connote the same truth, that Christ is the beginning and source of all things as well as the goal and consummation of all, in a word, the eternal God.].
Isa. 9:6 [“Father” in Hebrew here means “possessor or
source of”].
2.
____________________.
Heb. 13:8 What
change or varying is there in the Person of Jesus Christ?
Heb. 1:10-12 (1:8; Col.
1:16) Though the earth and
heavens will change, what does it say is true of the Lord Jesus (vs. 12)?
3.
____________________.
Rev.
1:8 (
Heb. 1:3 How does
Jesus uphold all things?
Phil.
3:20, 21 By what is Jesus Christ able both to transform our mortal body
into an immortal body like His, as well as subject all things to Himself?
4. ____________________.
Col. 2:2, 3 What
is hidden in Christ?
Jn.
Jn.
5.
____________________.
Col.
3:11 Why is there no distinction between Christians that
are of various ethnic, religious, cultural, or social backgrounds?
[“is all and in all” means that
Christ as the all-sufficient Lord and Savior is all that matters, and that He
indwells all believers – Jn. 14:23].
Eph.
[“fills all in all” means that Christ fills with His presence and power all the universe in all respects or with all that it contains and needs].
6.
____________________.
Jn. 14:6 Besides
being the way and the life, what else is Christ?
Jn.
[“truth” is what is real, correct, right, or honest].
7.
____________________.
Lk.
Jn. 6:69 What
did Jesus’ closest disciples come to believe about Who
Jesus is?
Mk.
8.
____________________.
1 Jn. 2:1 Besides
being an Advocate, what else is Jesus called here?
9.
____________________.
1 Pet.
10.
____________________.
Jn. 14:6 Besides being the way and the truth,
what else is Jesus?
Jn.
In what ways is Jesus
Christ identified in equality with God the Father (according to the following
passages)? And what is so unique about
Jesus’ identification in equality with God in these areas in comparison to all
the other great world’s religious leaders?
1.
____________________.
Matt. 2:2; 8:2;
Matt.
[In light of
Matt. 4:10 and the other passages, and the fact that Jesus didn’t reject or
turn away this worship from Himself, what does this tell us as to whom Jesus
identified Himself in equality with?]
2.
____________________.
Jn. 5:22, 23 Why
did God the Father give His Son, Jesus, all judgment?
To what extent are all to honor the Son?
3.
____________________.
Lk. 5.20-24 What
can God alone do?
What did Jesus do and claim to have the authority
to do?
[If God alone
can forgive sins and Jesus forgave people their sins, and demonstrated His
authority through performing miracles, Who does this
tell us that Jesus must be – stand in equality with?]
4.
____________________.
Col. 1:13-16 How
many things and where did Jesus create?
Gen. 1:1-25 Who
does it say created the heavens and the earth and the things in them?
[If God
created these things in the book of Genesis and it says that Jesus did in
Colossians, Who must Jesus be?]
5. ____________________.
Matt. 28:19 As Christians go and make disciples/converts, they are to do so in what?
[“name” is singular, yet the Persons are plural: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, showing they’re one in Being.].
6. ____________________.
Jn.
7. ____________________.
Col. 1:19; 2:9; Jn.
8. ____________________.
Acts 17:30, 31; 1 Thes. 1:9, 10 Who
raised Jesus from the dead?
Jn. 2:19-21 Who said He would raise Jesus from the dead?
[Since God raised up Jesus from the dead and Jesus raised Himself up
from the dead, what does this tell you Who Jesus is?]
NOTE
“Lord” – The
Greek word “kurios” when used in reference to Jehovah
or Jesus Christ means “Supreme One”.
“Jesus” – The Greek word “Iesous”
is a transliteration of the Hebrew word “Joshua” meaning “Jehovah is salvation”
or “Savior/Deliverer” (Matt.
“Christ” – The Greek word “Christos”
means “anointed”, and in Hebrew is the word Messiah (“mashiach”),
also meaning “anointed one”. The Old
Testament Scriptures portray the coming Christ/Messiah as a king/Prince (Dan.
9:25, 26; 7:13, 14; Zech. 9:9, 10) who is both God Himself (Psa. 45:6, 7; Isa.
7:14 with Matt. 1:23; Isa. 9:6; Jer. 23:5, 6) and God’s (Yahweh’s/Jehovah’s) Son
(Psa. 2:7; 89:27; Mk. 14:61-64), but who is also a Servant (Isa. 42:1) and
Redeemer/Savior (Isa. 53:1-12).
In the New Testament,
Jesus is seen as the fulfillment of the Old Testament prediction of the
Messiah/Christ (Mk.