Lesson 8 – Is Jesus God - Bridges To Common Ground

Is Jesus God

Christians: Jesus is "fully God and fully man"

Muslims: Jesus is a great prophet

Are we fighting over 23 chromosomes?!

Where Did This Belief Come From?

Divine Nature vs. Human Nature?

We know that Jesus was human, but what part of Jesus if any, could be considered Divine?

We as humans are defined in 3 distinct parts - that is body, soul and spirit.
While our bodies are temporal, our soul and spirit are eternal.
Christians often refer to Jesus as "fully God and fully human" but what does this mean?
What does the Bible & Qur’an really say?

It may help to differentiate his human attributes with divine attributes.

Could most Muslims and Christians agree that the flesh and body of the man Jesus was, at least in part, the contribution of Mary was physical and distinctly human? For example - the hair, fingers or skin of Jesus; were these divine or human?
Could most Muslims and Christians also agree that Jesus had a number of what could be defined as "divine attributes"? For example - Jesus' spirit was unique as the Spirit of God. He was also the Word of God, Messiah and supernaturally conceived, etc.

Christians believe Jesus died on the cross. What part of his nature would they say died? His human nature or his divine nature?

Do Christians really believe that Jehovah (YHWH), an eternal God died on a cross?

Jesus said on the cross; "Father into your hands I commit My spirit" Luke 23:46

Some theologians suggest that YHWH is Spirit and Spirit cannot die nor be killed.

The human source and the divine source:

The virgin Mary likely contributed to Jesus' human nature as his human mother.
On the other hand, the Spirit of God, breathed life into the virgin Mary that led to the supernatural conception of Jesus. Is this what contributed to the unique and divine attributes of Jesus?

From The Bible:

The Angel Gabriel said to Mary “For behold, you will receive a conception and give birth (Aramaic: eldiyn a unique feminine word implying there was no man involved) to a son, and you will call his name Jesus (Hebrew: Yasuah).” Luke 1:31

"...The Holy Spirit will come, and the power of the Highest will rest upon you..." Luke 1:35

Thus, the conception is depicted between the Holy Spirit (breath of God) and Mary not Joseph nor God coming down in a fleshly form.

From The Qur’an:

“She said, “Lord, how can I have a boy when no man has ever touched me?” He said, “God creates what He wills, when He decides a matter, He simply says to it: 'Be!’ and then it is.” Sura 3:47

“We breathed into her from our spirit and made her and her son a sign for all people” Sura 21:91 and 66:12.

The Qur'an presents the nearly identical story of conception of Jesus.

Divine attributes of Jesus that Muslims & Christians should find agreement:

Word of God

Spirit of God

Messiah

Word of truth

The peace

Pure or sinless

Conclusions:

All of these attributes are uniquely applied to Jesus. Muslims often refer to Jesus as "just another prophet"...what other prophets are associated with these divine attributes?

But does this make Jesus God?
Can the complete nature of God be contained in a human form?
With all of these unique attributes...is it possible that Jesus is, "just another prophet"?

Was The Nicene Council Of Men Correct?

What Did Jesus Teach Us About God?

Where Is Jesus Now?

A Name Above All Names?

What Difference Does It Make?!

But Wait...Jesus Is Lord?

The dictionary defines "lord" as: "someone or something having power, authority, or influence; a master or ruler."

Therefore, saying; "Jesus is Lord" does not in itself mean that Jesus is divine or God.

For some undisclosed reason the sacred name of God was hidden in translation:

God's sacred name was translated as "LORD" in English at times with all capital letters.
The title of "LORD" has been mixed and confused with other "Lords" (without capital letters).

The Hebrew sacred name of God is YHWH. It appears in the Old Testament nearly 7,000 times but was translated most every time to Greek and then English as "LORD" (all capital letters). Strong's #3068

The title "Lord" itself does not typically indicate divinity.
The sacred name of God YHWH is used to refer to the one and only God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Ishmael.

The Hebrew word for "Lord" adony is not necessarily a divine title and usually means "master". Strong's #136

This easily overlooked translation gave a divine stature to “lord” in the English Bible (which was not the original intent).

The correct word used for “lord” in the Old Testament is adony which is used to refer to humans and often in reference to YHWH.

The Aramaic word used in the New Testament for Lord is mar.

Jesus is described as mar (master or Lord).

However when mentioning God the term “Master” consistently changes to MarYah (or Master YHWH) reflecting back to the Old Testament Hebrew word.

Examples:

"Hear, O Israel: The LORD (YHWH) our God, the LORD (YHWH) is one." Deut. 6:4

"The LORD (YHWH) said to my Lord (adony), "Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies," Psalms 110:1

Psalms 110:1 translates as; "YHWH said to David's master (adony) (i.e., Jesus the coming Messiah) sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies."

Conclusions:

Saying "Jesus is Lord" means that "Jesus is master" or "Jesus is the authority to follow".
The Bible says Jesus is "The Way" which can mean "the way to life" or even "the way to God."
When the Qur'an refers to Jesus as "The Straight Path," can this mean "the way to God" or even "the right way to follow"?

God's Spirit Within Us....Are We Gods?

Are we all gods? Are we no different than Jesus?

We have God's spirit within us, but we are NOT the Spirit of God.

We have our own unique and eternal soul and spirit.

The spirit that was within Jesus was the very Spirit of God.

Examples:

“Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness.” Luke 4:1
“We gave Jesus, the son of Mary clear signs and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit.” Qur’an 2:253

This difference is extremely significant.

The spiritual nature and uniqueness of Jesus, being the Spirit of God ...Is this is a uniquely divine trait?

"In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Messiah Jesus: Who, being in very pattern/image of God, did not consider having similarity with God something to be used to his own advantage. rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness." Philippians 2: 5-7

Using Aramaic one can have a better understanding of this verse:

"Who, being in the form (image) of God, did not consider it robbery to be equivalent (a copy of, or in one accord) with God."

"Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”

“We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.” John 10: 33-38

This is an accusation the religious leaders made in response to the teachings of Jesus.
The religious leaders attempted to trick Jesus and falsely accused Him regularly.

The word used for "God" ("claim to be God,") in the Aramaic is alaha "the divine" or the general word used for "god". This word is not exclusively associated with the Sacred name YHWH.
Much like the English word "god" it can also be attributed to false gods.

Jesus then quotes one of the most provocative verses in the Bible:

Jesus answered them quoting Psalms 82:6

“Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods” ’ ?

This verse has puzzled scholars for centuries. However a close look at the Semitic meaning of "god" may reveal answers.
The Hebrew word used In Psalms 82:6 for "you are gods" (eloha) is the same Aramaic word (alaha) used in John 10:34. It means "divine" or "god" and can also mean "god like", "angels" or even "rulers" and "judges". (See Strong's H430).

The next verse John 10:35 may help explain this puzzle "If he called them gods, because the Word of God was with them.."

These verses seem to be suggesting that humans can be considered "rulers", or in some way "god-like" (divine). Jesus says this because the "Word of God was with us."
If we are considered "god-like" merely because the "Word was with us" what does that make Jesus?
Both Muslims and Christians generally accept the Word was not only with Jesus, but that he was the very "Word of God."

Conclusions:

While we are a creation of the divine (God) and are "made in the image of God", that does not mean we are (God)YHWH.