I think Jesus did not want to enclosed His divinity to soon or too much, not wanting to jeopardize His primary calling towards the cross. The Jews then were so embedded with ideas of a politically driven Messiah who would save them from their misery of the Roman dominant empire and ultimately reign forever just as the prophets have spoken. If He were to exclaim His divinity overtly He might not be able to penetrate and win the minds of the Jews at that time which he could have been stone prematurely for blaspheming so much as to rightly exalt himself as equal to God. I believe His main mission on earth was to complete salvation for the hope of humanity. His resurrection and ascension in it self, in fact clearly shows that He is divinely intervened and are one of sufficient evidences although not stressed upon.
Hi, I'm Andrew Chow. I agree with you. It is generally said that the local masses had the hope and idea of a political leader or conquering kind of Messiah who will deliver them from the dominance of the Romans, but not the kind of suffering Messiah who had go to the cross. But God first seek to break the dominance of sin in man’s heart through unconditional and sacrificial love, and then establish His rule there. This is the divine plan all along but men are slow in learning (thank God He is ever patient with us) and the unfolding of the master plan is gradual. Even the chosen disciples who had been with Jesus for three odd years had problem and were slow in believing all that were written in Moses, Psalms, and the Prophets concerning the suffering Messiah has to be fulfilled. In another instance the risen Christ had to open the mind of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus to understand and believe in that divine plan eventually.
ReplyDeleteIt is when the Holy Spirit has been poured out on all flesh that Jesus’ divinity and God’s plan of salvation is 'officially declared' by Peter to all people group gathering in Jerusalem. Remember, Peter was among the first to acknowledge Christ’s divinity but was instructed not to tell anyone prematurely. Later on another occasion he impulsively reacted in the flesh and cut off a soldier’s ear when Jesus was arrested (perhaps at this stage Peter still thought Jesus is going to be an earthly king who will restore the kingdom of Israel). Jesus especially predicted Peter would take a tumble in his faith, instructed him to turned around and strengthen the brethren when his own faith is eventually restored. Jesus knew all along the struggles and failures the disciples will go through which is why he prepares them beforehand. So, there is this issue of timing, a time to conceal and a time to reveal according to God’s predetermined plan and initiative not subjected to human might but to God’s Spirit and His wisdom to accomplish His plan of salvation. Man’s confidence in the flesh first had to be broken so God’s unconditional love can reign his heart…
Hi Ken,
ReplyDeleteI guess if t is based on Andrews Comment then there is the question why didn't Jesus through the Holy Spirit give some form of understanding earlier, and even after the death and resurrection of the cross when the understanding fo the Holy Spirit is poured out people still cannot understand it?
so it makes me wonder, why people must have the divinity of Christ proven. if we say he did subtly then it means that he did mention His deity right? why then people still doubt and must have Him say that He himself is divine? what is their purpose and what are they trying to prove if Jesus is not divine or does not say He is divine. what woud be the consequences?
Hmmm...a challenging question i must say. I guess deep down in our hearts we all would like to know those answers too don't we? its a natural inquisitive we want that would satisfy our knowledge that we may fine it easy to put our beliefs on. not just merely faith alone. While for some pre-believers would like to see the "wind". But I think that is why each of us at different levels of reasoning and theology still have to fall back on faith at some point of our walk.
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