Part 9 (1/2)
How would it sound to say, ”In the name of the Father” _and of Moses?_ Would it not seem sacrilegious? Can we imagine the effect of such words on the apostles?
c) Other Pa.s.sages.
John 14:23--”We will come: the Father and I.” 17:3--”And this is life eternal that they might know thee, the only true G.o.d, _and Jesus Christ.”_ The content of saving faith includes belief in Jesus Christ equally with the Father. 10:30--”I and my Father are one.” ”One” is neuter, not masculine, meaning that Jesus and the Father const.i.tute one power by which the salvation of man is secured.
2 Thess. 2:16, 17--”Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and G.o.d, even our Father...comfort your hearts.” These two names, with a verb in the singular, intimate the oneness of the Father with the Son.
7. THE SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS OF JESUS REGARDING HIS OWN PERSON AND WORK.
It will be interesting to search the Gospel records to ascertain what was in the mind of Jesus concerning Himself--His relation to the Father in particular. What bearing has the testimony of Jesus upon the question of His deity? Is the present Christian consciousness borne out by the Gospel narratives? Is Jesus Christ a man of a much higher type of faith than ours, yet one with whom we believe in G.o.d? Or is He, equally with G.o.d, the object of our faith? Do we believe _with Him_, or _on_ Him? Is there any indication in the words ascribed to Jesus, as recorded in the Gospels, of a consciousness on His part of His unique relation to G.o.d the Father? Is it Jesus Himself who is responsible for the Christian's consciousness concerning His deity, or is the Church reading into the Gospel accounts something that is not really there? Let us see.
a) As Set Forth in the Narrative of His Visit to the Temple.
Luke 2:41-52. This is a single flower out of the wonderfully enclosed garden of the first thirty years of our Lord's life. The emphatic words, for our purpose, are ”thy father,” and ”my Father.” These are the first recorded words of Jesus. Is there not here an indication of the consciousness on the part of Jesus of a unique relations.h.i.+p with His heavenly Father? Mary, not Joseph, asked the question, so contrary to Jewish custom. She said: ”Thy father”; Jesus replied in substance: ”Did you say _my_ father has been seeking me?”
It is remarkable to note that Christ omits the word ”father” when referring to His parents, cf. Matt. 12:48; Mark 3:33, 34. ”_My_ Father!” No other human lips had ever uttered these words. Men said, and He taught them to say, ”_Our_ Father.” It is not too much to say that in this incident Christ sees, rising before Him, the great truth that G.o.d, and not Joseph, is His Father, and that it is in His true Father's house that He now stands.
b) As Revealed at His Baptism:
Matt. 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-ll; Luke 3:21. Here are some things to remember in connection with Christ's baptism: First, Jesus was well acquainted with the relation of John and his ministry to the Old Testament prophecy, as well as of John's own announcement that he was the Messiah's fore-runner, and that he (John) was not worthy to untie the latchet of Christ's shoes. Second, to come then to John, and to submit to baptism at his hands, would indicate that Jesus conceded the truth of all that John had said. This is emphasized when we remember Jesus' eulogy of John (Matt. 11).
Thirdly, There is the descent of the Spirit, and the heavenly voice; what meaning did these things have to Jesus? If Christ's sermon in the synagogue at Nazareth is of any help here, we must believe that at His baptism, so much more than at the age of twelve, He was conscious that in thus being anointed He was a.s.sociating Himself in some peculiar way with the prophecy of Isaiah, chapters 42 and 61: ”Behold my Servant... I have put my Spirit upon Him.” All, therefore, that must have been wrapped up in the thought of the ”Servant of the Lord” in the Old Testament would a.s.suredly be quickened in his consciousness that day when the Spirit descended upon Him. See also Luke 4:16-17; Acts 10: 38; Matt. 12:28.
But what did the heavenly voice signify to Christ? ”This is my beloved Son” takes us back to the second Psalm where this person is addressed as the ideal King of Israel. The last clause--”in whom I am well pleased”--refers to Isaiah 42, and portrays the servant who is anointed and empowered by the endowment of G.o.d's Spirit. We must admit that the mind of Jesus was steeped in the prophecies of the Old Testament, and that He knew to whom these pa.s.sages referred.
The ordinary Jew knew that much. Is it too much to say that on that baptismal day Jesus was keenly conscious that these Old Testament predictions were fulfilled in Him? We think not.
c) As Set Forth in the Record of the Temptation.
Matt. 4:1-11; Mark 1:12, 13; Luke 4:1-13. That Jesus entered into the temptation in the wilderness with the consciousness of the revelation He received, and of which He was conscious at the baptism, seems clear from the narratives. Certain it is that Satan based his temptations upon Christ's consciousness of His unique relation to G.o.d as His Son. Throughout the whole of the temptation Satan regards Christ as being in a unique sense the Son of G.o.d, the ideal King, through whom the kingdom of G.o.d is to be established upon the earth. Indeed, so clearly is the kings.h.i.+p of Jesus recognized in the temptation narrative that the whole question agitated there is as to how that kingdom may be established in the world. It must be admitted that a careful reading of the narratives forces us to the conclusion that throughout all the temptation Christ was conscious of His position with reference to the founding of G.o.d's kingdom in the world.
d) As Set Forth in the Calling of the Twelve and the Seventy.
The record of this event is found in Matt. 10; Mark 3:13-19; 6:7-13; Luke 9:1-6; 10:1-14. This important event in the life of our Lord had an important bearing upon His self-consciousness as to His person and work. Let us note some of the details:
_First_, as to the number, twelve. Is there no suggestion here with reference to the New Jerusalem when the Messiah shall sit upon the throne surrounded by the twelve apostles seated on their thrones? Is not Jesus here conscious of Himself as being the centre of the scene thus described in the Apocalypse?
_Second_, He gave them power. Is not Jesus here repeating what had been done for Him at His baptism: conveying super-human power?
Who can give this power that is strong enough to make even demons obey? No one less than G.o.d surely.
_Third_, note that the message which He committed to the twelve concerned matters of life and death. Not to receive that message would be equivalent to the rejection of the Father.
_Fourth_, all this is to be done in _His_ name, and for _His_ name's sake. Fidelity to Jesus is that on which the final destiny of men depends. Everything rises or falls in its relation to Him. Could such words be uttered and there be no consciousness on the part of the speaker of a unique relations.h.i.+p to the Father and the things of eternity? Know you of anything bolder than this?
_Fifth_, He calls upon men to sacrifice their tenderest affections for Him. He is to be chosen before even father and mother (Matt.
10:34-39).
e) As Revealed in the Sermon on the Mount.
Matt. 5-7; Luke 6:20-49. Two references will be sufficient here.
Who is this that dares to set Himself up as superior to Moses and the law of Moses, by saying, ”But _I_ say unto you”? Then, again, listen to Christ as He proclaims Himself to be the judge of all men at the last day (Matt. 7:21). Could Jesus say all this without having any consciousness of His unique relations.h.i.+p to all these things? a.s.suredly not.
B. THE WORK OF JESUS CHRIST.