Is Jesus God?- Part 2
Review of Part 1 –In the previous discussion, we read
that Jesus had many attributes of God, but we did not find a place where He
directly stated that he was God. We find
in many biblical precepts, places where men had similar attributes of God. Moses was able to control nature, Elijah was
able to raise a boy from the dead, Samuel was known to be a seer, Daniel was
able to interpret dreams, Solomon had extraordinary wisdom, and John the
Baptist baptized for the remission of sins.
In every instance, were a divine act was done, credit for such act was
always given to God, and the worker of such act always made known that he was
not God.
In the first half of this chapter we
find that Jesus exhibited the ability to read men’s hearts, to impress upon
men’s hearts, he possessed supernatural wisdom, and he granted the forgiveness
of sins. This definitely places Jesus at
the level of prophet or man of God, but does it place him, or any others listed
in the bible as God? Therefore, the
question remains, is Jesus God. Let us continue.
30 As he
spake these words, many believed on him.
Note: When Jesus spoke to the crowd, the crowd
believed that He had been sent from God, and the things which He had spoken
were given to Him from God.
31 Then said
Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word,
then are ye my disciples indeed;
Note: Here Jesus is speaking only to those who
believed on Him, he is not speaking to the second group of Pharisees who were
attempting to tempt and find fault in Him.
Jesus is explaining to the believers, that to continue believing and
following Him, makes us His disciples.
Therefore, the belief, followed by the works, creates the relationship
with Jesus, that allows us to follow Him.
Mathew
24:13 – But he that shall endure unto the end, the same
shall be saved.
John 15:10 – If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my
love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his
love.
32 And ye
shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Note: Here Jesus, again speaking to the believers,
further explains to them that their discipleship renders them freedom, but
freedom from what? Jesus informs
the disciples that they will personally know the “Truth”, and that the “Truth”
shall set them free, but who or what is the “Truth”? Pontius Pilot asked this question to Christ, unfortunately, he did not await the answer. So close to salvation, and yet pride stood in his way.
John
14:6 – 6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way,
the truth,
and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
33 They
answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how
sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
Note: This statement, made by those who still believe
in Jesus, shows that they were drastically misled. First, they claim that they were never in
bondage to any man, even though the “seed of Abraham” was known to have been
slaves in Egypt, slaves of Babylon, servants of the Medes & Persians, and
currently under tribute and control of Rome.
In fact, it was the hope of Israel, that the awaited Messiah would come
to destroy Rome, and place Israel as the political ruler of the world.The freedom that Christ was offering, was not equated to the freedom, that Israel was desiring. To this day, many desire for an earthly kingdom. Christ did not come to free us into a sin filled, polluted world, he came to free us into a sinless, perfect spiritual world.
34 Jesus
answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the
servant of sin.
Note: Here Jesus was speaking of a different kind
of slavery. He was attempting to show
them that the “Truth”, would free them from the oppression and dominion of sin. This is what he was referring to in verse 28,
when ye have
lifted up the Son of man, then ye shall know that I am He, the
“Truth”, the lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. So Jesus is calling the believers
sinners?
Jesus is telling us, that where our heart is, is what we worship and serve. This is why he tells us to place our “treasures” in heaven, treasures are the things we love and desire”. If that which we love and desire are in heaven, they are things from heaven, therefore, they direct us back to the Way, Jesus Christ.
Romans
6:16 – Know ye
not, that to whom ye yield (give) yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye
are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto
righteousness?
35 And the
servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
Note: Here Jesus is explaining the difference
between the Son of the house, and the servant of the house. The Son of the house has full privileges, but
the servant only has that which is granted him. The Son abideth in the house forever because it is his home, thru ownership, or thru inheritance. The servant does not have similar privileges, and those which he has are limited to the amount and duration that the owner, Son, desires to grant. The servant’s privileges can be withdrawn at anytime, but those of the Son, last forever, and are even transferable to his children.
John
15:15 –
Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord
doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my
Father I have made known unto you.
Wow! To be called a friend of God, what an amazing honor. The bible states that Abraham was a friend of God. To be equated to the likes of our patriarch, what could be greater? There does exist a greater honor, to be described as the sons and daughters of God. Is that even possible? Luke 3:38 says yes! Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God. How is this possible? Well you see, when Jesus Christ formed Adam, Adam was perfect, and he was known as the son of God, not Son, that is reserved for Christ and Christ alone. Because of sin, and the separation that sin causes, Adam lost his previous title. When we return to God the Father, thru Christ the Son, we become friends of God. What an honor! When we are restored thru the Holy Spirit, and made one with the Father, thru Christ the Son, we become sons and daughters of God. Is there anything more beautiful?
36 If the Son
therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Note: As we have read above, the Son of the house
has full privileges, therefore, if the Son of the house grants the servant of
the house freedom, then he is granted full freedom. Here Jesus states that he is the Son of the
house of God, and if He grants you freedom, through Him being raised up
(sacrifice), then you are truly free, from the bondage of sin, and the separation from God that sin causes.
Therefore, the servant of the house becomes a friend of the house, and later a
son.
37 I know
that ye are Abraham’s
seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no
place in you.
Note: Here we find, that the crowd believes themselves to be special, because of their lineage. Those in the crowd believe that they have a special connection with God, that no one else could attain. They actually believe that their lineage warrants them special rights and privileges from God, a sense of entitlement. In other words, righteousness by group, particularly, righteousness by lineage. No such ideal or right has ever been granted, or exists in the bible, and yet many practicing Christian believe this to be so. Here the crowd, with the use of the term, “Abraham’s seed”, shows that they believes in this entitlement thinking, righteousness by group, and that the members of the children of Judah, are owed from God, these privileges. Christ reminds, or at least attempts to teach them, the true distinction of being “Abraham’s seed”. He explains to them, that the privilege of heaven is not owed to any man, for the wages of sin is death. Therefore, the only thing man is owed is death, not entitlement. The idea of entitlement applied to God is actually blasphemy, because believing that God owes you something, places you at, or actually above the level of God.
So Christ recognizes the crowds claim of being descendants of Abraham, but he informs them that they are not the “seed” of Abraham. One is based on lineage, the other is based on lifestyle. Because they have refused to truly accept the teachings of the Torah, and to follow them indeed, they do no understand, just who it is standing and speaking before them, the Messiah. If these men of Judah, would accept the lifestyle of being Jews, they would recognize Christ, and follow Him. Then they would become friends of God, and later, thru the Holy Spirit, and the sacrifice of Christ, sons of God, not Abraham’s seed.
When
Jesus had shown the crowd the characteristics of the Pharisees, they believed
that He was sent from God, but when He showed them their sins, they were led to
reject the “Truth”. Who led them to
reject the “Truth”?
38 I speak
that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with
your father.
Note: Here Jesus states that the words that He
speaks, He had seen
with His Father, implying that He has
had a relationship, and spent face to face time with His Father. He then goes on to tell the crowd, you too do
that which you have learned from your father, but who or what is their father?
John 1:18 – No man hath seen
God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he
hath declared him.
39 They
answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye
were Abraham’s
children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
Note: Again, the crowd repeats their same claim, that they are the children, or seed of Abraham. This confirms what Jesus had just explained to them, that they do not, or refuse to understand the relationship that exists with being a “seed of Abraham”. They cannot delineate the difference between a lineage version of Abraham’s seed, kingdom of this earth, and a Spiritual version of Abraham’s seed, heavenly kingdom. Jesus explains to them, that if they lived the true Jewish life-style, they would have recognized Christ, accepted Him, followed Him, and become Christians. You see, Christianity, or Christ, completes Judaism. Without Christ, Judaism is an incomplete religion, that is why they still seek a messiah. To become a Christian, ones lifestyle must be ordained in the Spiritual realm, not in the physical one. To have your lifestyle in the physical realm is to accept the ways and beliefs of the physical world. The bible explains that the ways of the world are sin, and a person in sin is already dead, spiritually. A dead person can not be a part of any lineage, therefore, one can only inherit God’s kingdom thru the spiritual.
40 But now ye
seek to kill me, a
man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this
did not Abraham.
Note: Remember that verse 30 clearly states that
many believed on Him. When Jesus had put
the Pharisees in their place, the people were quick to accept Him as a
prophet, man from God. Why? Could this be because there was great disdain
for the leadership, since it had unions with the enemy, Rome? Now that Jesus is telling them about the
plank in their eyes, they come to hate Him.
When Christ states that a man told you the truth, He was referring to John the Baptist. Almost everyone in the crowd considered John the Baptist to be a prophet of God, and therefore could not lie, so his words must be true. Christ then goes on to explain that Abraham would never have gone against the word of God, and if John the Baptist was a true prophet, and he himself claimed Christ to be the Lamb of God, then this man before the people, is of God, and all that He speaks is truth. Therefore, their actions against Christ, is subversion against God, and this is the lineage doctrine of “Abraham’s see”, not the Spiritual one.
Mathew
23:37 – O
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them
which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children
together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye
would not!
41 Ye do the
deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.
Note: The crowd, finally understanding that Christ is stating their deeds do not reflect them being as Abraham, therefore He is denying their claims of being the seed of Abraham. They still do not understand that Christ is referring to the Spiritual seed, and not the physical one. Christ then explains to them that since they do not follow the ways of Abraham, a friend of God, they must have another father, the one whom they actually follow, Satan. Christ is inferring to them, that they are not of the seed of Abraham, but rather of the following of Satan.
The crowd is flabbergasted by Christ statement, and rebut it by saying that they do not have another father, Satan, but they only serve God. They make this claim by stating that they are not of the children of fornication, or from a non-married union. They wish to dispel the idea that they follow another, otherwise, they have no inheritance, since a non-married union child, known as a bastard, does not have ancestral rights or privileges. The crowd continues to hold to the belief of righteousness by lineage, even though the evidence expels it. They continue to rationalize their beliefs, so that they do not have to accept the truth. Do we find this in many religions today, including Christian ones?
42 Jesus said
unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
Note: Not just a few passages back, the crowd was
convinced that Jesus was a prophet, sent by God. Jesus, reading the hearts of those in the
crowd, stated to them that God could not possibly be their Father, their works show otherwise. These wishy-washy Jews have much in common
with the Church of Laodicea, today’s form of Christianity. These Jews
were quick to accept the latest knowledge, with no regard for the validity of
that which they heard. This was the same
fault of the Greek System. Where knowledge was cherished, but truth was
unimportant. Knowledge, irrespective of
truth is the basis for the Pagan Systems of Greece, Rome and the New Age
Movement, and it gives rise to what is known as Natural Law. Jesus goes on to say, if you knew the truth, you would love him, because before them stands that which they have been waiting for, the Messiah. He follow that statement with, if you love God, you would love me.
Revelation 3:15-16 – I know thy
works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither
cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
43 Why do ye
not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
Note: Here Jesus asks the crowd why they don’t they
understand his words? He explains to
them that it is because that do not hear what He is saying, or the evil in their hearts will not allow them to accept it. What are they missing in order to hear the
words?
John 14:15-17 –
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you
another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even
the Spirit of truth;
whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him:
but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
The
crowd is missing the Spirit of Truth, therefore His words to them are foreign,
and incomprehensible. Their interpreter
is the Great Deceiver, not the Holy Spirit.
44 Ye are of your father the
devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was
a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no
truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar,
and the father of it.
Note: Here Jesus expresses to the crowd, one-time
believers, that their father is not God, but the Devil. This is because they no longer adhere to the
verse 31 and follow in Jesus’ words, therefore they are not His disciples. They have chosen in their hearts to follow
the ways of the great deceiver. This is because they choose to reside in the physical realm, and not the spiritual, since they refuse the truth that is being given them. They have been given an opportunity to discover truth and the spiritual realm, but they choose, or are deceived to choose, a lie, and the Father of lies. Since they do not actively choose Truth, they either actively accept lies, or they receive the lies thru deception, but they were just given the truth, so it is not an ignorant deception. It is a choice for deception.
Mathew
6:24 – No man can serve two masters: for either he
will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and
despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
45 And
because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.
Note: This crowd has rejected the truth given to them
from God, thru Jesus. Therefore,
unbelief leads to rejection of truth, and filthy works. This causes a relationship, not with Jesus,
but with Satan.
Proverbs
14:12 – There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but
the end thereof are the ways of death.
46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say
the truth, why do ye not believe me?
Note: Jesus then asks the crowd, which of you can
prove that I have sinned, can prove that I have lied. Remember that
Jesus had just freed the woman brought to Him, caught in the act of
adultery. He had told the Pharisees that
whoever was without sin could cast the first stone. Now he is asking the same of the crowed,
since they too were sinners due to their unbelief. By rejecting the “Truth”, they reject freedom
from sin, and are therefore slaves to sin, and incapable of discerning truth
from error. Jesus’ follow up question is, if you cannot prove that I have lied, then why don’t you believe. He is telling the crowd that they are not thinking logically, otherwise they should believe. Instead, they are thinking carnally, thru their interpretation of Abraham’s seed, not God’s interpretation of Abraham’s seed. You see, in order to understand God’s interpretation, you have to enter into the spiritual realm. These Jews, of the carnal realm, cannot possibly understand that which does not exist in the carnal realm. Therefore, they choose to reject, or make an alternative ideology so they do not have to accept it, kind of like idea of evolution.
47 He that is of God heareth
God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not
of God.
Note: Spiritual things are spiritually discerned,
and without the connection to the Holy Spirit, they cannot be ascertained.
2 Corinthians 2:14 – But the natural (carnal) man receiveth not
the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can
he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
48 Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we
not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?
Note: Since the crowd cannot find error in Christ’s words, they stop attacking His words, and begin to attack the man. They claim, without cause, just like Job’s friends, that he is a Samaritan, and that he is possessed by Satan. By claiming that Christ is a Samaritan, they are claiming that he, not his words, is a half bread, being half Jew, and half Gentile. By stating this, and attacking the man, they attempt to disregard him as a man of authority, or to state that God is not in Him since He is not a Jew. Again, this leads them back the false notion of righteousness by lineage. They again attempt to discredit Him, without proof, by stating that He is possessed with Satan. Is this not the exact same tactics used by the inquisitors in the inquisition, and witch trials of Salem?
49 Jesus
answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.
Note: Jesus rebuts their deceptive, false statements. First he denies the notion that he has a devil in Him. Remember, the Pharasees, when trying to entrap Him, said to Him, we know that you come from God, cause only one from God could do the miracles that you do. Christ is showing the crowed His innocence. He does so because He heals the carnal seed of Abraham, not the followers of Satan. Remember when Christ explains that no man can serve two masters? Here he is showing that He can’t be serving Satan, by healing the Devils enemies. He goes on to explain, that even though the crowd KNOWS that Christ is doing the will of God, they still reject him. They reject Him because they don’t want to make the necessary changes to become a friend of God, they just want the entitlement. They want no responsibility for their salvation, they just want the benefits of inheritance, regardless of who their father is, we call this theft.
Deuteronomy 6:1-5 –1 Now
these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the Lord your God commanded to teach you, that ye might
do them in the land whither ye go to possess it: 2 That thou mightest fear the Lord thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments,
which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy
life; and that thy days may be prolonged 3 Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it;
that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the
land that floweth with milk and honey 4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: 5 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy
soul, and with all thy might. (The Schmah -is the most sacred of all texts in the bible)
John 10:30 – I
and my Father are One
50 And I seek
not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.
Note:
Jesus states that does not seek His own glory, but to glorify the
Father.
Ephesians
3:21 – Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus
throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
51 Verily,
verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see
death.
Note: Jesus emphasizes to the crowd that truly, if
a man keep and follow His word, that man shall never see death, because he will be saved. Christ’s words lead us to Christ, the only means of salvation for mankind.
John 3:16 – For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
52 Then said
the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the
prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of
death.
Note: The Jews, now believing that they have caught
Jesus in a lie, again claim that he has a devil in Him. They claim that since Abraham and the
prophets are dead, Jesus’ statement that, if a man keep my saying, he shall
never taste death, could not possibly be true, since Abraham and the Prophets did keep God’s word.
The Jews did not understand that Jesus was speaking about the second
death, spiritual death, and not the sleep of the first death. The reason for their lack of understanding is the same, they refuse to enter into the spiritual, since that would require work, and change. Therefore, laziness is a sin.
John
11:25-26 – 25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that
believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.
Believest thou this?
Revelation
20:5 – 5 But the rest of the dead lived not
again until the thousand years were finished. This is
the first resurrection.
Revelation
20:14 – 14 And death and hell were cast into
the lake of fire. This is the second death.
53 Art thou
greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom
makest thou thyself?
Note: The Jews then ask Jesus if He is of greater
importance that their ancestor Abraham, or the prophets sent to Israel by
God? They then ask Jesus who does He
make Himself so great? Essentially they are asking Christ, are you greater than death itself. You see, they again only understand the natural world, where death is and absolute. Christ resides in the spiritual world, where death does not exist. They cannot delineate between and absolute death, on that they understand, and a non-existent death, something they have never experienced, but have hear of. Remember the stories of Enoch and Elijah? This is because they chose to only believe that which they see, experience. Since on this earth, death is absolute, then, in their minds, this notion of a realm without death, is not plausible!. By rejecting the truth, they have rejected their conduit to the Supernatural.
54 Jesus
answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me;
of whom ye say, that he is your God:
Note: Jesus responds to the question of the
crowd. He states that He does not honor
Himself, otherwise the honor is worthless.
According to Jewish law, a man could not testify of himself, and even if he did, he needs corroboration of his testimony, at least two witnesses. He then states that it is His Father that honors Him, and therefore the
honor is of infinite worth. Jesus then
goes on to state, that His Father is the One that they claim to be their God,
clearly inferring that He is not their god. but rather they follow Satan, as evidence by their works.
Deuteronomy
17:6 –
At
the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of
death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be
put to death.
55 Yet ye
have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I
shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.
Note: Here Jesus tells the Jews that they do not
know God, but that Jesus does know the Father and follows Him. Jesus states that for Him to deny knowing the
Father, in a personal manner, is to lie.
John 10:1-5 – 1Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
Note: Just as Jesus knows the Father, and
recognizes His voice, and is known to Him by name, so too are we when we know Jesus, since He and the Father are the same, are One. We too recognize the Father thru Jesus, and
know His voice, His word, and thru Jesus, and we follow the Father since we
recognize Him thru our Sheppard.
56 Your
father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
Note: Jesus expressed that their father Abraham
rejoiced of the day that the Messiah would come, and that he even saw this day, in vision,
and was glad. But the Children of Israel were not glad for this day, rather they feared this day, since they knew in their hearts that they were not prepared, or worthy of this day. Is not this the same sentiment amoung many professed Christians, today? When a Christian says that he hopes Christ is not returning soon, it is because their hearts and minds still reside in the natural caranl realm, just like Isreal of old.
57 Then said
the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen
Abraham?
Note: The Jews again accuse Jesus of lying, stating
that he is less than 50 years of age, and there is no way that He could have
known Abraham and the prophets, all who died centuries before. Now remember, according to John 1:1, Jesus Christ is the word, and as the Word, not only did he physically know Abraham and the Prophets, He physically spoke to them, as the Word..
58 Jesus said
unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was,
I am.
Note: Here Jesus clearly states that He is
God. He is the I am, this makes Him the
God of Abraham, Issacs and Jacob. The
God of the Covenant and the Creator of the Universe.
59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but
Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them,
and so passed by.
Note: Here the crowd clearly recognized that Jesus
had confirmed from His own words that He is God. When Jesus stated that He is “I am”, he is
stating that He is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and therefore, their
God. The people, being disassociated
with the truth, believe Jesus to be guilty of blasphemy, and breaking of the
first third commandments, attempt to stone him, but this is not the prophesied
manner of Jesus giving up His life.
