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(Assignment)
Divinity of Christ has been a bone of contention for centuries. This dissension was the key factor that led to Jesus’ sufferings and crucifixion. People who followed him, namely his apostles, believed in Christ’s divinity. Although Christianity as a whole underwent profound changes and took numerous denominations over the past centuries, almost all Churches today agree with the divinity of Christ.
The sole purpose of the New Testament itself is to affirm Christ’s incarnation for the salvation of the entire humanity. One who genuinely goes through the Bible will experience Jesus Christ as a complete man and God. As Roberts purports, the revelation of Christ is “to reveal the mystery of God’s Trinitarian nature” along with the mystery of man and the whole universe (158).
According to a famous quote, “the question of Christ’s divinity is the question of the truth or falsehood of Christianity” (Liddon 497). Jesus was not a mere wonder worker like what many non-believers argue. His actions were goal oriented and they clearly reflected his concerns over human sufferings. None of his actions intended fame, and many a time Jesus instructed his beneficiaries not to disclose his acts of favor. He was exceedingly empathetic that he sacrificed his life for his fellow men. He could have easily avoided death if he was ready to compromise his divinity. Pontius Pilot gave him several chances to deny his Godly impression so that the Jews’ accusation would be invalid. However, Jesus was firm with his position, for he knew he was the Son of God and had a divine mission to perform here on the earth.
Jesus was neither a victim of fate nor a scapegoat of human conspiracy. His death was not accidental, but a clearly assigned divine plan. This is clear from his own statements on his awaiting sufferings and death. He knew clearly what would happen to him later when he entered Jerusalem. He knew how terribly he was going to be deserted by his dear and near ones. Furthermore, he was sure about his resurrection too. John the Baptist knew the Sonship of Jesus, and according to Pope Shenouda III, this Sonship implied nothing other than Jesus’ divinity (36).
Admittedly, there are good volume of weird theories about the life and death of Jesus Christ. However, the authenticity of Bible narrations and believers’ experiences overweigh all such criticisms. In Christ’s own words, a plant is identified by its fruit. Only a divine person can perform the marvelous deeds he did throughout his life.
In total, Christ was the real facet of suffering human, and at the same time, he showed the world the real path to perfection. He represented man and God in their perfect sense. He assimilated God’s will with his human nature. He was never driven by personal interests. Jesus did whatever he instructed others to do. His whole life was a sacrifice. All these points show that Jesus Christ was/is truly divine.
Works Cited
Liddon, Henry Parry. “The Divinity of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ: Eight Lectures Preached Before the University of Oxford, in the Year 1866”, on the Foundation of the Late Rev. John Bampton, M.A., Canon of Salisbury. Scribner, Welford and Armstrong, 1869. Google Books.
H.H. Pope Shenouda III. The Divinity of Christ. London: Coptic Orthodox Publishers Association, 1989. Google Books.
Roberts, Bernadette. What is Self?: A Study of the Spiritual Journey in Terms of Consciousness. Sentient Publications, 2005. Print.
The Holy Bible.
