The United Testimony of Scripture: Was Jesus God or A Way To God?

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Bible account in Mark 12:28-30 testified that it is necessary to understand who exactly is God; failure to understand this would be to violate the first and greatest of all the commandments in the Bible. Jesus emphasized this commandment, when a teacher of the Law of Moses asked him:

 "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" Jesus replied: "The most important one is this:  “The one that says, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one. And you must love Him with all your heart and soul and mind and strength.’” (Mark 12:28-30).

Notice that Jesus was quoting the first commandment from the book of Deuteronomy 6:45. Jesus confirmed not only that this commandment is still valid, but also that it is the most important of all the commandments. On the contrary, the Bible itself stressed that, in order to be saved, it is necessary to understand who exactly is God.

Conception and birth of Jesus shows all traits of humanity:

Many people wondered about how Jesus could have been divine, indeed the deity of Jesus is one of the most controversial, so is it fair enough to ask these question, What kind of a man was Jesus? Did he help to bring mankind nearer to God? Did he declare himself as deity or did someone “put word in to his mouth”? Was the basis of Christianity myth or historical fact? Is Christian’s history and its modern doctrine reflection of the teachings of Jesus?

The genuine reality of the humanity of Jesus Christ must be at the basis of any true conception of his character and his identity. Therefore, although we have the utmost love and respect for Jesus, we need to understand his genuine personality.

Jesus had a normal human birth:

The circumstances around his conception and birth of Jesus showed all the traits of being human. The Bible account tells us that Mary conceived Jesus like any other woman. Jesus spent nine months in his mother’s womb, so Jesus had a human birth. Gospel according to Luke 2:6-7 states: “And it came about that while they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth’. And she gave birth to her first –born son; and she wrapped him in cloths, and laid him in a Manger.”

From these passages, it shows that she went through all the normal stages of pregnancy. Nor was her delivery any different from other expected mothers.

“And she was with child; and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth”----Revelation 12:2.

Many people would find it hard to comprehend with the thought of their creator take human flesh and come from woman’s womb. They rather had a God who would come down from heaven in some more spiritual and miraculous way or believe in the existence of the unseen God whose manifestation can be ascertained through his creation.

He was circumcised like other male Jewish children:

The circumcision of Jesus is an event from the life of Jesus according to the Gospel of Luke, which states in verse 2:21 that Jesus was circumcised eight days after his birth. This is in keeping with the Jewish law which holds that males should be circumcised eight days after birth during a Brit milah ceremony, at which they are also given their name.

His mother like any other child nursed him:

Jesus was a human child who was nursed by his mother just like any other child and this gave him essential elements of human being. Luke 11:2  mentions breastfeeding (or "giving suck," "suckling," or "nursing," as a literal reference to the physical act of breastfeeding: “And it came about while he said these things, one of the women in the crowd raised her voice, and said to him “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed/ sucked’’.

Feeding a child with mother’s milk is human and universal experience. In Christian scripture, Jesus was believed to be sucked from his mother’s breast milk. He takes his very life as a human from his mother.

Therefore, everything that the scripture has to say about his birth and development indicates that Jesus had normal human childhood.

It look unreal and harder to believe that God – The unique and perfect being by definition, could make himself into a man, especially one that possess humanly features ….humanly weakness.

The Bible testifies that a man born of a woman cannot be clean before God, and Jesus was born of a woman:

The Bible further in Job 25:4 records that a man born of a woman cannot be clean before God, a statement that was repeated in Job 15:14. Jesus was born of a woman and impure before God, and therefore cannot be God.

“How can a mortal man be righteous before God? How can one born of a woman be pure?” – 25: 4

“How can a man be justified with God? Or how can he be clean that is born of a woman” – Job 25:4

What is man, that he can be pure? Or he who is born of a woman, that he can be righteous?- Job 15:14

However, Christian apologists have a way of twisting the scripture to make the argument void; they claimed although the scripture agrees that man is unrighteous by nature according to Job 25: and 15:14, a person can be born from a woman and still be pure and holy in God’s sight. They try to counter the argument with another passage, saying Jesus was exempted from the inherited nature of impure; to back their claim, they quotes Luke 1:26- 35

“And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a town in Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, ‘Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.’ Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.’ ‘How will this be,’ Mary asked the angel, ‘since I am a virgin?’ The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. “therefore, the holy one which shall be born of you will be called the son of God"- Luke 1:26-35

They claim Luke 1:26:35 gave the accurate answer to the question, for Jesus to be born of a woman can be holy before God is if he were born supernaturally of a virgin by the Holy Spirit, thus purifying the child from the stain of inherited sin. Since Jesus was the only one conceived supernaturally by the Holy Spirit to a virgin, he alone amongst the sons of men is Holy from conception.

They use Luke 1:26-35 to show that miraculous birth just like in Jesus’s case indicates purity, though borne of a woman but in special circumstances so Jesus is exempted by the implication of Job 25:4 and 15:14.

The verse does not show that Jesus is exempted by Job 25:4 and Job 15:14. The narration is about how Jesus’s miraculous conception and birth will take place; contrary to their claims, the word in the passage “Holy one to be born” did not prove his uniqueness or perfection. The Bible clarifies the meaning of the word the holy one in Daniel 4:23 - "Your Majesty saw a holy one, a messenger, coming down from heaven and saying…” so Jesus is a man and a messenger sent by God. Therefore, the apologists’ argument is debunked once again.

Jesus was a human child who grew to be a man:

His genealogy consists entirely of human beings. In addition, the Old Testament predicted the Messiah would be human. He would be a physical descendant of King David. Jesus was a descendant of king David physically through his mother. That lineage is traced in Luke 3:23-31. Luke traces Jesus lineage all the way back to Adam to prove that through his mother, Jesus was physically a son of man. He also had a family with four brothers and at least two sisters.

 The Bible clearly stated that Jesus was reared as a normal Jewish youth of his time, attending the local synagogue and temple in Jerusalem. (Luke 2: 41-52) When he reached the age of 30, he started his public ministry. First, he went to his cousin John, who was baptizing Jews in symbol of repentance in the river Jordan. Luke’s account tells us: “Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus also was baptized and, as he was praying, the heaven was opened up and Holy Spirit in bodily shape like dove came down upon him, and a voice came out of heaven: “You are my son, the beloved; I have approved you.” – Luke 3:21-32; John 1: 32-34.

In due case Jesus began his teaching ministry at later time of his life- when he was 30 years old. He went throughout Galilee and Judea preaching the message of the kingdom of God and performing miracles, such as healing the sick. Jesus performed many miraculous wonders, for that, some people use what he said and did as proof that he was God.

Jesus expressly called himself a man; he never gave the impression that he was non-human in any way: “But now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is what Abraham did” – John 8:40.

Jesus disciples recognized the humanity of Jesus. On the day of the Pentecost Peter stood up with the eleven disciples and addressed the crowd saying: "Men of Israel, 'listen to these words: Jesus of Nazareth was a man attested to you by God with miracles, wonders and signs which God performed through him in your midst, as you yourselves know" Acts 2:22.

It was God, therefore, who did the miracles through Jesus, to convince people that God backed Jesus. Peter did not see the miracles as proof that Jesus is God.

Jesus showed all the trait of a human being, when he was tempted by the devil:

The Bible declares that Satan tempted Jesus (Matthew 4:1), and that Jesus was “in all points tempted as we are” (Hebrews 4:15).

Jesus showed all the trait of a human being, for instance, Jesus was tempted by the devil. Only human beings can be tempted: “Jesus was led up into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” – Matthew 4:1; Mark 1:12, 13; Luke 4:1

Christians admit that attestation of the power and nature of God is immeasurable. We were created; He has always been (Psalm 90:2). We have flesh and bones; God is Spirit (John 4:24). We are limited in power; He is omnipotent (Genesis 17:1). We can become knowledgeable about some things; God’s knowledge has always been infinite—“Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is too high, I cannot attain to it” (Psalm 139:6). The wondrous attributes of God, cannot be equaled with mere human thoughts and nature.

Paul expressed his amazement of God to the Christians in Rome, saying, Oh, how great are God's riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways! (Romans 11:33).

The inevitable question remains: How could Jesus be God, if his self-limitation during his time on earth proves traits of humanity, if he could not attain inscrutable depth of riches in wisdom and knowledge? How could Jesus not know something if he was God (e.g., the time of his Second Coming; Mark 13:32)? How could God the Father, be greater than Jesus (John 14:28), if Jesus was “equal with God” (John 5:18; Philippians 2:6)?

Yet, the Bible also declares that “God cannot be tempted by evil” (James 1:13). Therefore, the Bible (allegedly) contradicts itself regarding the nature of Jesus. How could he be God, if God cannot be tempted?

If the scripture teach and testified about Jesus’ temptation by devil while on earth, then it has answer the questions being ask by many - about the nature of Jesus or how did he become God.

Jesus showed all the traits of human being when he experienced Hunger, thirst, he eat, sleep, and weep:

The unique and perfect God does not manifest human traits; God does not get tire, sleep, thirst and does not get hungry.

According to the Bible Jesus showed human imperfection by exhibiting his need for food: 

After His baptism in the Jordan River, Jesus was led by the Spirit out into the wilderness. And when he fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward he was hungry (Matthew 4:2).

Here Jesus exhibits the human trait of hunger. Like other human beings, a long period without food made Him hungry.

Jesus ate and drank with others; mingling among humanity as a fellow human. Later in his ministry, the Bible speaks of Jesus being tired from a long trip. “Now Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.”- John 4:6-7”

Jesus also experienced thirst while suffering on the cross. Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty" (John 19:28).

God doesn’t tire, doesn’t sleep, doesn’t thirst and doesn’t get hungry - (Psalm 50:7-13, 121:3-4; Isaiah 40:28).

How then can Jesus be God?

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.”- Isaiah 40:28).

“Hear, O My people, and I will speak;

         O Israel, I will testify against you;

 I am God, your God…..” – Psalm 50:7

We are also told that He needed sleep and he had to sleep. He had no special ability to stay awake all the time. “And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with waves. But he was asleep”- (Matthew 8:24).

That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.”  Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”- Mark 4:35-41

  Jesus exhibits the human trait when he proved to be not all knowing:

  

Was Jesus all-powerful and all-knowing?

Christians agree that God is all-powerful and all knowing. The Gospels show that Jesus was not all-powerful, for he has some limitations. Mark tells us in his gospel that Jesus was unable to do any powerful work in his hometown - Mark 6:5-6). So Jesus Christ possessed essential elements of humanity he was fully human and that made him unfit to be accepted as the all-powerful God.

The Bible account where Jesus secretly attends feast of Tabernacles to avoid being seen because the Jews were seeking to kill him. He went into the temple and began to teach. The Jews were marveling and questioning his teaching skill, he answered them: “My teaching is not mind, but His who sent me.” – John 7:16

When Jesus was asked about his return and the end of the world, He told his disciples that only God the Father knows the day and the hour.  Does this mean that Christ is not all knowing?

Let us begin by looking at the verse in question: Jesus says in Mark 13:32 "But of that day, and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father." Mark's Gospel also reveals that Jesus had limitations in his knowledge. He declared that he does not know when the last day will occur, but the Father alone knows that (see also Matthew 24:36).

Therefore, he could not have been the all-knowing God. Christians apologists argue that Jesus knew when the last day will occur', but he chose not to tell. But that complicates matters further. Jesus could have said that he knows but he does not wish to tell. Instead, he said that he does not know. We must believe words from Jesus, not the lies and twisted accounts manipulated by apologists.

The Gospel of Luke also reveals that Jesus had limited knowledge. Luke says that Jesus increased in wisdom (Luke2:52). In Hebrews too (5: 8) we read that Jesus learned obedience. But God's knowledge is always perfect, and God does not learn new things. He knows everything always. If Jesus learned something new, that proves that he did not know everything before that, and he was not God. Certainly, he could not have transformed to God, because, there is only one God, and He is God from everlasting to everlasting (see Psalms 90:2).

In these verses, Jesus said plainly that at that time, He did not know the exact timing of his second coming.  But why would Christ say this if he truly was equal with his Father? We can see this all throughout the Gospels, as Jesus was constantly depending upon another being for help, which is the supreme God. So, Jesus is still a creature of God and is therefore forever subservient to God (see I Corinthians 15:28).

Jesus asked questions during interaction with other people:

Numerous passages of the Bible clearly indicate that God is omniscient. The Bible declares the God “Knows the secretes of the heart” (Psalm 44:21), that his eyes “are in every place” (Proverbs 15:3), and that “His understanding is infinite” (147:5). From the Psalmist we understand this: “O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and rising up; you understand my thought afar off….” –Psalm 139:1-4, 6-8.

According to the Bible, there is nothing outside of the awareness of God, see 1 John 3:20; Acts 15:18; Isaiah 46:10. This proves some question asked by Jesus makes an indication of him being less than omniscient.

Thus, belief in the divinity of Jesus only portrays a contradictory of image of God and His knowledge.

Another indication of the humanity of Jesus is that He asked questions. Sometimes Jesus asked questions that were rhetorical-not expecting an answer, were intended to make his followers think; while other were asked because he is lacking in knowledge.

So he said to them, "How is it you do not understand?" (Mark 9:21).

There were some questions that were asked with a genuine desire to gather information. And he said, 'Where have you laid him?' They said to him, 'Lord, come and see' (John 11:34).

My God, My God, why have you forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46) 

Why are you trying to kill me? (John 7:19)

Jesus also expressed human emotions such as tears, love, compassion, disappointment, and anger.

Jesus showed human emotions:

At the tomb of His dead friend Lazarus, Scripture records, "Jesus wept" (John 11:35). He had human feelings that allowed Him to cry at a tragic situation. He also cried over the city of Jerusalem.

As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it (Luke 19:41).

 Like other humans, Jesus could give and receive love:

Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, "One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me" (Mark 10:21).

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9:36).

Jesus exhibits anger, ignorance and could experience disappointment:

Jesus exhibits anger and ignorance when he curses a fig tree:

On the next day, when they had left Bethany, he became hungry. Seeing at a distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if perhaps he would find anything on it; and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again…” (Mark 11:12,13,14).

Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the fig tree withered up. – Matthew 21:19

Now, it is clear from this passage that Jesus had a lot of power to curse the tree and make it wither from its roots. It is also clear that Jesus was ignorant on two counts. Firstly, he did not know that the tree had no fruit until he came to it. Secondly, he did not know that it was not the right season to expect figs on trees.

But God does not act on ignorance. Surely, He would know, as Mark knew, that it was not the season for figs, and that when fig season arrives that tree will provide fruit for God's creatures. The reason the tree had no fruit is "because it was not the season for figs" (Mark 12, v. 13).

Why would God curse a good tree, which he created?

Jesus was angry for the way the religious rulers were corrupting the temple practices. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!" (John 2:15,16).

He was upset at the prospect of having the penalty for the sins of the world placed upon Him. Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour' (John 12:27).

Jesus was troubled by the betrayal of Judas Iscariot:

After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, "I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me" (John 13:21).

Jesus, like other humans, prayed:

Only humans can pray to God. Jesus prayed often. During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and pleadings, with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his deep reverence for God. (Hebrews 5:7).

He went a little further and bowed with his face on the ground, praying, “My father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” – Matthew 26:39

Jesus was humiliated and suffered pains just like all mortal beings:

The canonical Gospels of the New Testament narrates how Jesus was humiliated by men. After Jesus’ condemnation by the Sanhedrin some people spat on him, he was blindfolded, beaten, and then mocked. – Mark 14:65

In another narration, Pontius Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged (John 19:1).

Luke 23:36-37 mentions Jesus being mocked by Roman soldiers. ‘The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!”

In Matthew 27:42 people, priest and the elders mock Jesus, and shout at him while is hanging on the cross: “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ, the chosen of God.”

Jesus suffered pain like other humans. And being in agony he was praying very fervently; and his sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground (Luke 22:44).

When on the cross Jesus cries out for help from God. “About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?”(Which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”- Mathew 27:46

 Jesus Experienced death like other humans, he was killed by poison:

Physical death is the expiration of human soul on earth. The Bible tells us that Jesus like all creation experienced death. “But when they came to Jesus and saw he was already dead, they did not break his legs (John 19:33).”

If Jesus were not a real human being then his death on Calvary's cross was merely myth as it was recorded in Luke 23:33, Mark 15:22-24, Matthew 27:45-50

It is widely known that the central idea of Christian faith lies with crucifixion of Jesus. If we take a look at the four canonical Gospels, you can find that Jesus did not died because of the process of crucifixion but because of the effect of some drink offered to him.

Jesus was a man who was born into Jewish society in Galilee; he was not a divine being who descended from outer space in order to suffer death on behalf of mankind. In other to understand why Jesus was killed, we have to know why Jews from Galilee in those times might be crucified in the hands of Romans. 

Many Jews from Galilee died in the same way during this period. Judas of Galilee was a Jewish patriot who led an armed rebellion against the Romans, hundreds of his supporters were crucified by the Romans. Crucifixion was the cruel form of execution, which the Romans used for rebels against their rule.  The presumption is, therefore, that Jesus the Galilean who died on the cross did so for the same reason as the others: because he was a threat to the Roman occupation. The Gospels indeed tell us that this was the charge made against him. The actual charge, according to Luke was as follows, ‘We found this fellow perverting the nation, and, forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King’ (Luke 23:2). On his cross, the charge for which he was executed was affixed, according to Roman usage: it was that he claimed to be ‘King of the Jews’, a capital offence at a time when the Romans had abolished the Jewish monarchy. To ‘pervert the nation’ meant to disturb them from their allegiance to Rome.

Historically the Jews followed Pharisee leaders who claimed to be Messiah, they were Judas of Galilee (6 CE), Theudas (46 CE), and Bar Kochba (132-135 CE), so the Romans did not want to take any chances, they suspected Jesus and thereby poisoned him. There was no need to break his legs because they saw he was already dead by ingesting the poison (John 19:32-33). It took several days to die by crucifixion; the Romans knew Jesus would survive the cross if they did not poison him. 

Crucifixion was a slow death. It usually lasted several days. Death followed from exhaustion, inability to respire property as a result of being in an upright position or attacks by wild animals.

Scholars agree that no man could die within three hours, the Jews were probably ignorant of this fact, but the Romans were experts at crucifixion, they knew Jesus was alive, so they poisoned him. The Pilate knew Jesus was harmless, yet he did not know about the poisoning that caused his death.

Jesus was a healthy man who traveled throughout Palestine and its cities. How could a healthy man die so fast? 

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. (Matthew 9:35)

After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, (Luke 8:1)

It is not impossible for him to die in three hours and dying by crucifixion takes longer period, prior to the event the Gospels are clear that Jesus was very healthy.

Crucifixion was a slow death. It usually lasted several days. Death followed from exhaustion, inability to respire properly as a result of being in an upright position or attacks by wild animals.

 Jesus of Nazareth was not the only person nail on the cross by the Romans; there are tens of thousands of people the Romans crucified.

Why did Jesus, who was a fit and healthy man used to walking the countryside for long distances, die so quickly in only a matter of a few hours?

Jesus was “filled with the Holy Spirit” on the cross, yet the poison killed him instantly, the Holy Spirit departed from his body immediately after the vinegar was consumed:

A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips.  When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished”. With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. - John 19: 29-30

Christian apologists will argue to the contrary that Jesus’ poisoning does not discredit his prophethood, and that he “died for their sins”. On a factual point, the Jews conspiracy to kill Jesus proves his humanity, his weakness. The poison had such a grave effect on Jesus that he cried out: “And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. (Mark 15:36-38)

In another narration about Jesus last hour, the Bible confirms Jesus being poisoned by men he did not died for atonement of human sins:

He said, “I am thirsty” --- John 19: 28.

“They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink” –Psalm 69:21.

Why didn’t Jesus refuse the vinegar? Why didn’t he spit out the poison? He obviously did not know it was poisoned, so therefore he was not All-knowing.   

Jesus was identified with all human characteristics

This is important for us to understand that Jesus really possessed and experienced all the human nature - he was born, he lived, he experienced growth, hunger, tiredness, sadness and death just as other human beings experience. Therefore, having this testimony by the scripture itself, how could someone possibly claim Jesus to be God or share same attributes with the sovereign God?  There is never any indication given that He was somehow non-human. He was not given any special immunity from these experiences.

However, if Christianity affirm Jesus’ role while on earth as merely a human prophet, a chosen elite by God, to lead the Israelite into righteousness, one who pointed a way to God, it can fit perfectly and also clear the dilemma.

Conclusion:

When we explore the subject of the humanity of Jesus the Scripture has made it clear, Jesus was indeed human. He was born into the world through a human birth. We learnt from the Scriptures that Jesus was human; there is never any indication given that he was divine. There was no special treatment given Jesus while here on earth. He felt the same things as every other human being feels. He had all the traits that make up a human being except that he was a chosen prophet, an inspired human teacher of righteousness.

References:

1. The Living Bible, Self-Help Edition
2. New American Standard Bible
3. Mankind’s Search of God – Watch Tower Bible And Tract Society
4. Answering Christianity   Rebuttal to Sam Shamoun’s article By Sami Zaatari/ http://www.answering-christianity.com/sami_zaatri/rebuttal_to_sam_shamoun_14.htm
5. Is Jesus God? The Bible Says No – Shabir Ally
6. Christ - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christ

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