Either God or a Madman or…
June 1st, 2008 by JohnO
Presented by Ken Westby at the One God Conference, Seattle WA June 1st 2008, commentary by John Obelenus. Click here to listen.
The title is a reference to CS Lewis’ options for who Jesus is. Of course an option of “a man, the Messiah” is not left for us. Ken makes use of the “desert island” idea, where if all you had to read was the Bible, what would you really come up with? People specifically turn to John to prove their Trinitarian view point. However, John is seemingly still making a point to talk about the historical Jesus, but from a present view point (which would be after the events had occurred). And of course John himself in his epistles defends his gospel from misuse by the Gnostics who confuse that Jesus was not really a human. John labels the view that Jesus was not fleshy and human is anti/against Christ. Can’t we add our choice into CS Lewis’ list? Ken begs. Jesus was just like the rest of us, humanity, in his birth. But in his life he was much different than us.
Ken turns to what God wants from us. To be like our brother Jesus. For us to be God’s children, that we submit our will to God. And that God may save us. It is a strange thought that God wants to spend eternity with each of us. To get to know us, and us to get to know Him. And our forgiveness comes by the offer of Jesus to God, and God accepting that sacrifice. We can fix our eyes on Jesus and receive confidence from that to walk like Jesus did and God wants us to now. God wants us to hold firmly to the faith, and precisely because Jesus was a man and tempted like us we can fix our eyes on him in order that we may hold firm.
Dear John O.,
you mention above
I am wondering about the use of the expression “our brother Jesus” …is this in line with what Scripture teaches? In particular with the truth about Jesus Christ being our Lord (rather than “brother”)?
Cheers,
Wolfgang
Wolfgang,
Ken was speaking devotionally where Jesus is the son of God, and God’s plan is for us to be the sons of God, children of God, thereby Jesus’ brothers and sisters.
Hi John O.,
thanks for the note. I had figured that he may have been speaking “devotionally” in the sense you mention above … BUT is such thinking biblically based or is it more an emotionally based “desire” which does not necessarily help but perhaps distract from a correct perspective of the relationship between Jesus and his followers? In other words, is it true that one can equate Jesus’ sonship with his followers’ sonship so as to call each other “brother” ?
Cheers,
Wolfgang
Hebrews 2:9-11 - But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings. For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren
I have heard a variation of Lewis’s choices, in which it is said that Jesus is either “Lord, Liar, or Lunatic.” I think this works better, since it calls him Lord instead of God. And the point is then still made that either he was who he claimed to be, or he was lying, or he was crazy. The point being that if he was not the Messiah he claimed to be, he was not simply a “good man” or a “good teacher.”