Session 11

During the last sessions, we discussed the scene where the Lord Jesus was arrested and taken to trial before the chief priests, elders and teachers. The fact that many witnesses were trying to bring false testimonies against the Lord Jesus but they failed. Dr. Nagy, what was the factor that all want to put the Lord Jesus to death?
They all sentenced Him to death when He stated clearly that He is the Son of the living God, a word by which the Jews would directly infer that He is God. They could not accept this truth, which led the high priest to tear His clothes contradicting the law. The Lord Jesus continued His statement saying," it is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven." (Matthew 26:64) Here He is saying about Himself that He will sit at the right hand of the Father Himself in heaven, which implies that He is equal to God almighty. It is already known that God has no equal or similar or partner, consequently; His claim meant He is God Himself. From the hearer's point of view, this statement given by the Lord had a serious implication. But from the Lord Jesus point of view, it was the absolute truth.
Where do we find the second statement confirming that Jesus Christ is the Son of God coming in the flesh? 
The second statement is, "I am and you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven. " Here He says not only that He is equal to God almighty Himself in essence; therefore, He is going to sit at the right hand of the Mighty One or hand Majesty. But He is coming again and everyone shall see Him as if He is claiming that He is The One with Authority, the Son of The Living God seated at the right hand of the Father.
Dr. Nagy, why we blame the priests for their reaction, and the fact they could not believe the Lord Jesus sending Him to death; don't you think this is a natural reaction to anyone who hears the statements in this passage? They arrested Him and took Him before the high priest. He was standing in a place of weakness and humiliation and would not open His mouth to defend Himself, and suddenly He makes those serious statements making Himself equal to God, naturally this should drive them crazy! Isn't it the same reason why many people today do not accept the Lord Jesus as a Savior? Because they cannot take that He is God coming in the flesh? 
I agree that this statement should drive the people crazy if someone tries to imagine it and convince himself with it but quite simple if you believe it for the fact that Jesus said it. The Lord Jesus here could be one of three categories. He either could be viewed as a liar or as a crazy man not knowing what He says or as someone deceived by His own pride thinking that He is God showing in the flesh, therefore needing someone to bring Him back to His own senses. God forbid, He doesn't belong to any of three. Consequently, the only possible alternative would be that He is God coming in the flesh.
Dr. Nagy, carrying on the same direction, why wouldn't it be possible for the Lord Jesus to fit into one of the three categories you mentioned? After all, it is impossible for any human being to be in His place and say what He said during the trial, which led them put Him to death. 
First He cannot be a liar and knowing that He is lying to His hearers because any one can lie to a certain extent. But when falling in the hand of His enemies, He had to save His own soul from death and crucifixion. So if the Lord Jesus wanted to lie, He would say that He is not the Son of God that He is a normal human being for this is what they wanted to hear. If He said that, they would have not sentenced Him to death and He would have saved His soul. But the fact that He insisted to tell this truth shows he was not lying. For it is written that He is the true faithful witness.
What could be a second alternative? 
The second alternative would be that He is crazy. This one could not be acceptable as well for His words in different situation do not show that he was. A mad man when arrested will not say these words," I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled." He is referring to past events and quoting prophecies. The mad man will not stand silent during his trial before his enemies. A mad man doesn't know when to talk and when to keep silent. If He was truly mad, they would have not tried Him or else they would be mad themselves.
This leaves only the third alternative, which is the closest to the Lord Jesus situation. 
The third alternative is that the Lord Jesus was deceived and paranoiac thinking that He is God showing in the flesh. This also cannot be valid, for if it was true while being arrested, the Holy Spirit would not have restored the ear of the servant of the high priest that Peter has cut off. The Bible says that He touched the ear and returned it back to place. If He was truly deceived, how could He do miracles? And how could He not defend Himself in such a situation? Paranoiac people always try to show their greatness, and when they fail to show their greatness, they experience disappointment and failure then they collapse. But all this did not happen to Jesus. To summarize, Christianity believes that Jesus was a messenger of God, without sin or fault, which is also acknowledged by our Muslim brothers. But Christianity, in addition, believes that He is God coming in the flesh. This simple fact contradicts the possibility of Him falling under one of the previous three categories.
So according to you, which category could Jesus belongs to?
It is obvious that only one alternative is left and that is the fact that Jesus is who said about Himself to be the Son of the Living God or God Himself. He cannot be anything else for He is "The Faithful and True One" the one without sin. Therefore, worthy to be trusted even though this contradicts the natural human thinking and no human being can believe. Disbelieving these facts means disbelieving the words of the prophets of God Moses, Solomon and David. It also means not believing Jesus Himself concerning what He said about Himself. Accusing those prophets of being liars is swaying from the truth and leads to eternal damnation.

How can an ordinary person believe this truth?

If the chief priests did search the scriptures as the Lord Jesus taught, they would have known the books that testify Him. And that "The Messiah" means what came in the book of Isaiah chapter 9 and verse 6 is that," His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of peace." These attributes are ones that belong to God and cannot belong to man however great he is. If people opened their hearts to God and said that we believe in you, and what you have sent to your prophets Moses, Abraham, David and Christ, God will help them believe this truth. Their life will be changed completely, and they would become the household of God blessed be his name.


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