Q&A Home > D > Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ The miracles of our Lord as well as His power to forgive sins (Matthew 9:6) are often quoted in defense of His Divinity. However, please read the following verses:Holy Gospel of St. John 20:22-24
"And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained. Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came."
Holy Gospel of St. John 5:19
"Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner."
Holy Gospel of St. John 14:10
"Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works."
Holy Gospel of St. Matthew 28:18
"And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." Some might argue that the verses above do not prove Jesus' claim to be God; but that His divinity and power to forgive sins were given to him by the Father. Also, if the apostles received power, second hand from Christ who in turn received from the Father, how come they could forgive sins?
Is it true that the verses cited above aren't clear claims to Christ's Divinity? If they are, could Your Grace please clarify?
Holy Gospel of St. Matthew 12:8 "For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." is also another verse used to show that Jesus claimed to be God. However, Holy Gospel of St. Mark 2:27-28 states "And He said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath." Why is that a claim of Divinity? He seems to be saying that the Sabbath was made for man, therefore every man is lord of the Sabbath because it was made for him and he wasn't made for the Sabbath, does Your Grace agree? "All authority in heaven and upon earth is given unto me" Our Lord does not have a limited authority handed down to Him. Christ has all authority or right in heaven to send down the Holy Spirit, to raise up his followers, and to crown them in the kingdom of the endless glory. On earth, He has the authority to convert sinners; to sanctify, protect, and perfect His church; to subdue all nations to Himself; and, finally, to judge all mankind. If Jesus Christ was not equal with the Father, He would not have been able to declare this equality of power, without being guilty of impiety and blasphemy. In the fullest manner, He asserts His Godhead, and His equality with the Father, by claiming and possessing all the authority in heaven and earth i.e. all the power and authority by which both empires- heaven and earth - are governed. The reason He said that is because He, as the Son, is not the origin in the Holy Trinity; The Father, the Godhead is the origin.
Our Lord Jesus Christ says that He is Lord of the Sabbath. He has the right and the authority to direct the manner of its observance. This is a proof of His divinity; For who put the law of observance of Sabbath but God Himself?
In Holy Gospel of St. Mark 2:27-28, the Lord clarifies that the Sabbath was made for man as a day of rest. Man was created before the Sabbath and the Sabbath was given to him for his welfare not vice versa. It is our Lord Christ who prescribed the manner of the Sabbath observance; For He is the Lord of the Sabbath.
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