I have been thinking about the theological implications of the Bad Lip Reading song I shared on Sunday, "Everybody Poops." So Jesus was human according to what I see in the Bible. Is he still only human? Has Jesus now become by his resurrection and accession now just a submerged part of God? Is he God at all?
After his resurrection he appeared to his disciples, but one was not there, and had trouble believing. Here is what was said in John 20:
24-25 But Thomas, sometimes called the Twin, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, “We saw the Master.”
But he said, “Unless I see the nail holes in his hands, put my finger in the nail holes, and stick my hand in his side, I won’t believe it.”
26 Eight days later, his disciples were again in the room. This time Thomas was with them. Jesus came through the locked doors, stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.”
27 Then he focused his attention on Thomas. “Take your finger and examine my hands. Take your hand and stick it in my side. Don’t be unbelieving. Believe.”
28 Thomas said, “My Master! My God!”
29 Jesus said, “So, you believe because you’ve seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing.
A common explanation by those who do not think that Jesus is divine is that Thomas was cursing here. For me that just does not pass the smell test.
I remember a letter to the editor by an advocate of Jesus not being God sent to a newspaper of my religious tradition. He wrote that it was only a few times that the Bible called Jesus God, "maybe two or three" he wrote. Yes, I agree it is not done often, although I would place the number much higher. But the Bible does call Jesus God, even a scholar that advocates the “Jesus was only human” concept admits it. I have found it amusing that those that want to make Jesus human will quote this scholar, not realizing that he advocates that the Bible, at least part of it, teaches that Jesus is God.
First a little grammar to help us think about how Jesus is God. In English and Greek the presence of the definite article "the" gives us clues about the nature of the noun that the article modifies. If I say, "I saw the red and the green car," how many cars are there? There are two. But if I say, "I saw the red and green car," how many cars are there? There is one. This is called the Granville Sharp rule, for those interested in grammar minutia. (I will leave for another time the discussion of the bad taste of the car owner with such a two-toned monstrosity.)
This distinction can help us understand some aspects of Jesus' divinity. First is Jesus and the Father one entity?
7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 1:7
Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. 2 John 1:3
No, they are separate entities. In the resurrection Jesus did not give up his uniqueness.
With that in mind also note this:
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ Titus 2:13
Note that there is no definite article in front of savior. So whoever Paul is referencing is both God and Jesus Christ.
So Jesus is God.
What does this mean exactly?
I have no idea. I see no reason to try to turn God into some sort of trinitarian pretzel trying to fit our preconceived notions about God. It is far better just to say that Jesus is God, yet separate from the Father, and let it remain undefined in its minutia. I think trying to work out all the details is a giant waste of time. I think you would be better off watching sports, it would be more productive. (As you will see this Saturday, I think modern sports are a part of Babylon, so I do not praise sports watching at all.)
So my conclusion is that Jesus while on the earth was human, just like that other son of God, Adam. After his resurrection he was God, yet separate from the Father. But what was he, or was he, before his conception? That we will talk about next time.