Who was Jesus Christ?
Evidently the earliest Christians had some confusion about the nature of
Jesus' divinity. These questions were not ironed out completely until the
fourth century.
The New Testament itself gives these
variations.
A. Jesus as a human political rabble rouser.
"Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread reeds...
[they] cried out: 'Hosanna!... Blessed is the
reign of our father David to come!... he [Jesus] entered the
temple precincts and began to drive out those engaged in buying and selling."
Mark 11:8,9,10,15
B. Jesus as a mystic able to tap into the divine
in an altered state of consciousness
"...[Jesus' family] came to take charge of him, [because they were] saying
'He is out of his mind' [literally
"beside himself"; having a seizure or fit; usually a religious ecstasy]"
Mark 3:21
As a result, the scribes (religious leaders) assert "He
is possessed by Beelzebul,..." Mark 3:22
Jesus defends the Holy Spirit (which he was just communing with?) "'...
whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. He carries
the guilt of his sin without end'. He spoke thus
because they had said, 'He is possessed by an unclean spirit'"
Mark 3:29-30
C. Jesus became the Son of God at his resurrection
"...the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according
to the flesh but was made Son of God
in power according to the spirit of holiness, by
his resurrection from the dead; Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom
1:3-4
"Men of Israel, listen to me! Jesus the Nazorean was
a man whom God sent to you with miracles, wonders, and signs
as his credentials... He was delivered up by the set purpose and plan of
God; you even made use of pagans to crucify and kill him. God freed him
from death's bitter pangs, however, and raised him up again... Exalted
at God's right hand, he first received the promised Holy Spirit from the
Father, then poured this Spirit out on us... Therefore let the whole house
of Israel know beyond any doubt that God has made
both Lord and Messiah this Jesus whom you crucified." Acts 2:22,23-24,33,36
D. Jesus became the Son of God at his baptism
"...while Jesus after his own baptism
was at prayer, heaven opened and the Holy Spirit
descended on him in a physical form, like a dove. And a voice
came from heaven, 'You are my Son; today have
I fathered you.'" Luke 3:21-22
E. Jesus became the Son of God at his birth
"The angel answered her [Mary] 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you and
the
power of the Most High will overshadow you; hence, the
holy offspring to be born will be called the Son of God." Luke
1:35
F. Jesus as Pre-Existent "Logos" who came down
from heaven
"Though he was in the form of God,
he did not deem equality with God something to be grasped at. Rather he
emptied himself and took the form of a slave, being born in
the likeness of men." Philipians 2:6-7a
"In the beginning was the Word;... The Word
became flesh and made his dwelling among us,..." John 1:1a,
1:14a
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swezeyt@winternet.com
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