More than four centuries before Christ was born, Isaiah foretold that the Messiah would be called Mighty God and Everlasting Father: For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. [Isaiah 9:6]
There is no God other than the Lord God Yahweh:
“Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: “I am the First and I am the Last. Besides Me there is no God.”
[Isaiah 44:6]
There is no God or Savior other than the Lord:
“You are My witnesses,” says the Lord, “And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me. I, even I, am the Lord, And besides Me there is no savior.”
[Isaiah 43:10-11]
Jesus Christ was the Word, and the Word was God: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. [John 1:1,14]
The Apostle John stated that Jesus made himself equal with God:
“Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.” [John 5:18]
Thomas called Jesus Christ, “My Lord and my God.” If he had taken God’s name in vain, as skeptics suggest, Christ would have rebuked him for violating the ten commandments. But instead, Jesus commended him for his belief:
Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you
have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” [John 20:27-29]
God refers to Jesus Christ as God: But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever…. Therefore God, Your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness more than your companions.”[Hebrews 1:8-9]
* * *
Jesus Christ embraced
limitations as a man
As an extension of the Lord God, and as a man, Jesus Christ could do nothing on his own initiative: Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. [John 5:19]
Jesus Christ was in God’s form, but became a man and servant of God:
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bond servant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. [Philippians 2:5-8]
The whole body is greater than arm, so the Father is greater than the Son:
You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved
Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I. [John 14:28]
Christ was limited in strength. He experienced temptation, hunger, and tiredness as a man: For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
[Hebrews 4:15]
Jesus was tired:
Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. [John 4:6]
Without a word from the Father, Christ was also limited in knowledge:
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.
[Matthew 24:36]
Jesus sometimes needed to get alone to talk to the Father:
Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.
[Mark 1:35]
Christ experienced suffering, and became our example of a man committed to God: For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth.” who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return.
When He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously. [1 Peter 2:21-23]
As God’s arm extended, Jesus Christ is our Mediator between God and man:
For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. [1 Timothy 2:5-6]
Through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit we have access to the Father:
And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. [1 Peter 2:18]
Jesus identified as a man when he referred to his Father as “My God,” at the time of his ascention into into heaven:
Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ ” [John 20:17]
* * *