Jesus Exhibits the Character of God (Mainstream Apologetics)

Based on the gospel accounts, Jesus claimed to be the incarnation of God. These claims place Jesus in a position of equality and oneness with God. While Jesus was fully human, he also possessed all the divine attributes of God. Jesus clearly exhibited these attributes throughout his ministry.

The attributes of God are well outside the realm of human understanding. Human beings are finite and therefore cannot adequately grasp the infinitude and majesty of God. Fortunately, God revealed himself though nature and the Biblical writers. Using various figures of speech such as similes and anthropomorphic language, we get a human-understandable glimpse of the character of God.

Based on the gospel accounts, Jesus claimed throughout his ministry to be the incarnation of God [HIS-EV29]. These claims place Jesus in a position of equality and oneness with God. Given that Jesus was fully human, how can he possess the divine attributes of God? What is it about Jesus' life that truly exhibits the divine character of God?

The evidence presented herein identify the characteristics of Jesus' life that match the revealed attributes of God in the Old Testament.

#1 Omniscience of Jesus

The attribute of means that God is all-knowing. God has infinite and complete knowledge of both himself and his creation. According to Psalm 147:5 NLT, "His understanding is beyond comprehension!". Essentially, his knowledge is infinite and beyond human understanding. In Hebrews 4:13 NIV we learn that "nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight". God is fully aware of every planetary object as well as every atom. Nothing escapes his notice.

His understanding also includes human intentions - the human mind and heart. According to 1 John 3:20, God knows what we will say before we speak, and knows our very thoughts and intentions (Psalm 139:4, 1 Kings 8:39, Luke 8:16-17). Essentially, nothing we think or do surprises God.

Jesus, like God himself, possessed the attribute of omniscience. Throughout his ministry he demonstrated the ability to know the thoughts and intimate details of people. The following passages illustrate this attribute of omniscience in Jesus.

Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God." (John 16:30)
Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he ... (Matthew 9:4)
Knowing their thoughts, he said ... (Matthew 12:25)

⁴⁷Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!" ⁴⁸Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." (John 1:47-48).

Jesus knowledge also extends beyond the truth of scripture. His use of the word AMEN preceding many of his teachings implies that he has firsthand knowledge and is the source of the truth [HIS-EV29]. His exhaustive knowledge of the nature of God and divine truth is not merely something he learned in school or is a product of higher intelligence. Rather, Jesus is blatantly claiming to be the author of divine truth. This is evidenced by the testimony of the Jesus' listeners.

²⁸And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, ²⁹for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes. Matthew 7:28-29

Jesus' authoritative teaching is evidence that his truth was not derived from the teaching of the Jewish scribes and the Torah.

Finally, Jesus omniscience was manifest in his ability to predict future events. During the course of his ministry, Jesus predicted the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem (Luke 21:5-6), his death and resurrection (Matthew 16:21, Mark 9:31, Mark 10:32-34, Mark 10:32-34, John 12:23-24), Peter's betrayal (Luke 22:54-6) and many other events that have been fulfilled.

#2 Omnipresence of Jesus

The attribute of means that God is everywhere at the same time. God is not constrained by his creation, i.e. not constrained by space and time.

Jesus, like God himself, possessed the attribute of omnipresence. The following passages illustrate this attribute of omnipresence:

"Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began." (John 17:5, also (John 1:1)

This passage speaks of Jesus' existence before the universe was created. He was present with the Father from eternity past.

On another occasion Jesus told the Jewish leaders that he was alive before the patriarch Abraham (John 8:48-59). In this passage Jesus claims to be the eternal God, the .

When Jesus appeared to his disciples after his resurrection, he assures them that they would never be alone. Jesus promised to be with them always, for all time.

¹⁸And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20)

This passage speaks of Jesus' existence in past, present and future times. From this passage we learn that Jesus omnipresence enables him to be with all believers, in all places and at all times.

#3 Omnipotence of Jesus

The attribute of means that God has unlimited power over everything that exists. This includes all things in the natural and heavenly realms. This implies that ALL things are subordinate and dependent on God for their existence and sustainment.

According to the psalmist, God's power is complete. Nothing can diminish the power of God.

Jesus, like God himself, possessed the attribute of omnipotence. The Bible speaks of Jesus, first and foremost, as the creator and sustainer of all things in the natural and heavenly realms. Without the word of his omnipotent power, the universe would cease to exist.

¹⁶For by him (Jesus) all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. ¹⁷And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:16-17)

³He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. (Hebrews 1:1-3)

During Jesus' ministry, he performed thousands of miracles [HIS-EV47]. According to the Gospel of Matthew, knowledge of his miracles spread throughout the entire region of Galilee. Countless people brought those who were sick, and demon possessed to Jesus.

²³And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. ²⁴So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. (Matthew 4:23-24)

That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. (Matthew 8:16)

Because Jesus' power, like God's, is absolute, his efficacy in healing people was 100%. Nowhere in the gospels is there any record of Jesus failing to perform a single miracle. All those that encountered Jesus were healed and made whole.

Another observation is that Jesus rarely prayed to God the Father before performing miracles. He performed miracles in his name and did not need to invoke the power of the Father. In so doing, he proves that he has absolute power to effect miracles himself, making himself equal with the Father [REF-WLC03].

These passages also speak of Jesus' ability to cast out demons. This demonstrates that Jesus not only has power over the natural realm, but also over the spiritual realm.

Perhaps the most notable demonstration of Jesus' power is his ability to raise people from the dead. During his ministry he raised Lazarus (John 11:33-44) and Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:21-43) from the dead. In both cases many people witnessed his miracles.

The third instance of Jesus raising people from the dead was coincident with the natural phenomena that occurred directly after Jesus died on the cross. According to Matthew, many tombs were opened by an earthquake and many saints were raised from the dead. This miraculous event was witnessed by many people in Jerusalem.

⁵¹And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. ⁵²The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, ⁵³and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. (Matthew 27:51-53)

#4 Other Divine Attributes of Jesus

In addition to the attributes omniscience, omnipresence and omnipotence, Jesus demonstrated other attributes that are indicative of the divine character of God [REF-PRE01].

According to the author of Letter to the Hebrews, Jesus is immutable and never changes.

This speaks of Jesus nature as being constant. He is never impacted by the change in time. He never changes his mind on what is true. We see this attribute throughout the gospels in that Jesus' message in utterly consistent from one day to the next.

Final Thoughts

Before the incarnation, Jesus was with God (John 1:1-2). After the incarnation, he dwelled with mankind (John 1:14). From John 1 we learn that Jesus had a duel nature. He was fully human and fully divine. This truth is also echoed in Colossians 2:9 where Paul says "for in him (Jesus) dwells all the fullness of deity in bodily form."

This duel nature is referred to in Christian theology as the . Having a duel nature, Jesus is both fully human and fully divine. Each nature retains its unique attributes. The two natures remain distinct and inseparably united in Christ’s person. Therefore, Jesus does not cease to be omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent simply because he unites himself with a human nature with all its limitations. [REF-RCS02]

According to the Apostle Paul, Jesus gave up his divine privileges. Jesus laid his divine privileges aside and choose to not exercise them. He denied himself to fully identify with us in his humanity.

⁶Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
⁷Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
⁸he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
(Philippians 2:6-8 NLT)

In "giving up" his divine privileges, Paul is stating that Jesus voluntarily set aside his divine prerogatives to become human. This does not mean that he gave up his divinity altogether or could not exercise his divine power should he choose to do so while on earth. Basically, Jesus humbled himself to serve the greater purpose of becoming human to atone for the sins of mankind.

The ultimate expression of Jesus' self-denial was during his final hours where he was repeatedly mocked and tortured. At any time during his passion, he could have called angels down from heaven to save him. But because Jesus willingly chose to atone for our sins, he endured death on the cross (Hebrews 12:2).