On the Deity of Christ

Rogue Physicist · sentient bipedal physicist Joined: 28 Jun 2005 Posts: 78

It seems to me there is something greater at stake than the Godhead of Jesus here, and it's this:

Suppose an emperor or king sends a servant, or messenger, or embassador, with a clear and unambiguous message to a rebellious tribe within his borders. It matters not *what* messenger was sent: that would only indicate the importance of the receiver of the message, or the importance of the message itself. For humility's sake let's presume it is the importance of the message, not those receiving it, that the Emperor sends His Highest representative.

Now what is the message?

"(1) You have broken a priceless covenant and contract. You are already under a standing death sentence.

(2) I, the Emperor of emperors, have enough armies, enough power to destroy you swiftly as a man swats a fly and crushes it.

(3) I am offering you a one-time amnesty, a wonderful opportunity, a complete pardon, a wiping out of all debt, sin, crime, insult and disgrace.

(4) My conditions: You must all put down your weapons, turn from your crimes, stop your sins, bend your knee to me, renew your pledge, restore your original loyalty to Me.

(5) You must accept, and accept now. There is no more time. There is no other offer forthcoming. There is no higher power that can rescue you from my hand.

(6) As proof that this message is real and from me, I the Emporer have given all my power into the hand of my emissary, my embassador, my prophet, my High Priest, the personification of all my authority, whom I completely trust, to do what seems good to him concerning your case.

(7) He will fullfill, heal, bless, cure, cleanse, teach, and raise the dead, that you may know that I have sent Him. What is your answer? Don't doddle.
Signed the Emperor of the Universe.

Now imagine that all rebels, the apostates, vow-breakers, evil doers, thieves, liars, frauds, killers and rapists instead of taking the message seriously, begin to bicker and argue concerning the hair-splitting question of the exact authority of the only person the Emperor has sent to them.

Jerusalem was burnt to the ground.