Testimony of Christ Regarding His Divine Mission and His Doctrine — Part I: His Mission

Chapter XX.—Testimony of Christ Regarding His Divine Mission and His Doctrine

§ I.—His Mission.

I.—Heterodox Opinions.

Some Rationalists (Wellhausen, Schmidt, Wrede, etc.) deny that Christ claimed to be the Messiah. They assert that a declaration of Messiahship was ascribed to Him by His disciples after His death, inasmuch as they believed in His Resurrection. Other Rationalists (Harnack, O. Holtzmann) allow that Christ declared that He was the Messiah. Others again (Weiss, Loisy) formulate their view in this way: Christ had not at first the consciousness of His Messianic dignity, and when He exercised His ministry He did not say that He was the Messiah, nor had His miracles any such implication. But towards the end of His life, He taught that He was the Messiah, or rather that He would be King of the heavenly kingdom, which, with the destruction of the world, was close at hand (D. 2028, 2033).

II.—Christ taught most emphatically that He was the Messiah announced by the prophets.

At the beginning of His ministry, He testified that He was ambassador of God, and later more and more explicitly asserted that He was the Messiah and Redeemer.

Messiah (Hebrew, “masiah”; Septuagint, “χριστός”; John i. 41; iv. 25, 26, “Μεσσίας”; Vulgate, “Christus”) means “anointed,” i.e., anointed by God for His high office. In the Old Testament record, priests, prophets and kings were anointed (Lev. iv. 3, 16; 3 Kings xix. 16; Ps. xvii. 51).

The Jews had corrupted the notion of Messiah and expected a great political leader, who would restore the kingdom of Israel and conquer all nations. Hence the fear of Herod (Matt. ii. 13). Christ corrected this erroneous prejudice, and taught His disciples that the Messiah announced by the prophets was described as humble, patient, and was to give His life a redemption for many (Matt. xx. 28). Because of the false belief of the Jews, Christ did not at once disclose Himself, as He did not wish to give countenance to the notion of temporal ruler. St. John records their readiness to make Him king (John vi. 15). He wished to instruct the Jews so that gradually they might lay aside their erroneous belief, and recognise His exclusively spiritual mission. Christ many times asked those whom He had healed to be silent regarding the benefit, lest the Jews might misinterpret the exercise of His power as a sign of earthly kingship. Hence in the progressive manifestation of His personality and work there are two stages:

(A) The beginning of His ministry.

(a) His public declarations.

1° Christ declared His doctrinal and Messianic mission when He preached that “the time is accomplished, and the Kingdom of God is at hand: repent and believe the Gospel” (Mark i. 15). He chose His disciples and said to them: “Come ye after me, and I will make you to be fishers of men” (Matt. iv. 19). “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom: and healing all manner of sickness, and every infirmity among the people” (Matt. iv. 23). In the Sermon on the Mount He added to and perfected the Mosaic Law on His own authority: “It was said to them of old—but I say to you.” “He taught as one having power” (Matt. vii. 29).

2° He said to the Pharisees that He was “Lord even of the Sabbath” (Matt. xii. 8), that He was greater than Jonas and Solomon (Matt. xii. 41, 42), greater than David (Mark xii. 35-37).

3° In the synagogue of Nazareth, when He had read the words of Isaiah regarding the future Messiah, He said: “This day is fulfilled this scripture in your ears” (Luke iv. 18-21).

4° After the cure of the paralytic at the probatic pool, Christ declared not only His Messiahship, but His Divinity. He was so understood by the Jews, who sought to kill Him (John v).

(b) His private teaching.

Speaking to His intimate friends, Christ revealed His Messiahship at once.

1° Andrew, when he had heard the testimony of John the Baptist and had spoken to Christ, sought his brother and said: “We have found the Messiah which is, being interpreted, the Christ” (John i. 41). Philip and Nathaniel confess: “Rabbi, thou art the Son of God, thou art the King of Israel” (John i. 49).

2° Christ gave wonderful power to His twelve disciples: “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out devils… . It is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father that speaketh in you… . He that receiveth you receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth Him that sent me” (Matt. x. 1, 8, 20, 40).

3° When in prison John the Baptist, hearing of the works of Christ, sent two of his disciples to ask: “Art thou He that art to come, or look we for another?” And Jesus making answer said to them: “Go and relate to John what you have heard and seen. The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead rise again, the poor have the Gospel preached to them” (Matt. xi. 2-5). These words are the fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaiah, which the Jews regarded as Messianic (Is. xxxv. 5-6).

4° In His conversation with Nicodemus, ruler of the Jews, Christ told him that He had come down from heaven, and was the only-begotten Son of God (John iii. 13-18), thus clearly teaching His Messiahship and His Divine Filiation.

5° In His conversation with the Samaritan woman who alluded to the Messiah, Christ said: “I am He who am speaking with thee” (John iv. 25-26). Later the Samaritans said: “We ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Saviour of the World” (John iv. 42).

(B) The last year of His life.

1° He revealed to His disciples His Messianic dignity and uses expressions which imply His Divinity. Witness the confession of Peter, who replied to the question “Who do you say that I am?” (Matt. xvi. 13-19) “Thou art Christ, Son of the living God.” These words were approved by Christ as being inspired by the Father.

2° On the festival days of the Jews, Christ went up into the Temple and taught. “And the Jews wondered saying: How doth this man know letters, having never learned? Jesus answered them and said: My doctrine is not mine, but His that sent me… . Jesus therefore cried out in the Temple, teaching and saying: You both know me and you know whence I am, and I am not come of myself; but He that sent me is true whom you know not. I know Him because I am from Him and He hath sent me.” The Pharisees and rulers sent ministers to apprehend Him, and the ministers returning said: “Never did man speak like this man” (John vii. 14-16, 28-29, 32, 46).

On the following day Jesus taught in the Temple saying: “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me walketh not in darkness, but shall have the light of life. The Pharisees therefore said to him: Thou givest testimony of thyself: thy testimony is not true. Jesus answered… . I am one that giveth testimony of myself: and the Father that sent me giveth testimony of me… . And He that sent me is with me, and He hath not left me alone; for I do always the things that please Him… . If you continue in my word … the truth shall make you free… . I speak that which I have seen with my Father… . If God were your father, you would indeed love me. For from God I proceeded and came: for I came not of myself, but He sent me… . Which of you shall convince me of sin? If I say the truth to you, why do you not believe me? He that is of God heareth the words of God… . Amen, amen, I say to you: if any man keep my word, he shall not see death for ever. The Jews therefore said: Now we know that thou hast a devil … art thou greater than our father Abraham who is dead? … Jesus said to them: Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham was made I am” (John viii. 12, 13, 18, 29, 31, 32, 38, 42, 46, 47, 51, 52, 53, 58, 59). These last words assert more than His Messiahship. The Jews interpreting His words as blasphemy “took up stones to cast at him.”

Later, the Jews came round Him and said: “How long dost thou hold our souls in suspense? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them: I speak to you and you believe not: the works that I do in the name of my Father, they give testimony of me. But you do not believe, because you are not of my sheep” (John x. 24-26).

Jesus asserted a greater than Messianic dignity when He said “I and my Father are one. The Jews therefore took up stones to stone him. Jesus answered them… . Do you say of him whom the Father hath sanctified and sent into the world: Thou blasphemest because I said, I am the Son of God” (John x. 30, 31, 32, 36).

3° Triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

The multitudes cried, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest” (Matt. xxi. 9). “And some of the Pharisees from amongst the multitude said to him: Master, rebuke thy disciples. To whom he said: I say to you, that if these shall hold their peace, the stones will cry out” (Luke xix. 39, 40).

The same day He entered the Temple, and ejecting the sellers said: “It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves” (Matt. xxi. 13). Many Rationalists (e.g., Harnack, O. Holtzmann, etc.) allow that Christ’s entry into Jerusalem clearly shews that He claimed for Himself the office and name of Messiah.

4° During His passion.

Before the Sanhedrin, the high-priest said to Him: “I adjure thee by the living God that thou tell us if thou be the Christ the Son of God. Jesus saith to him: Thou hast said it. Nevertheless I say to you, hereafter you shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of the power of God, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Then the high-priest rent his garments, saying: He hath blasphemed.” In this reply Jesus declared that He was the Messiah, and that to Him belonged the prerogative of sitting at the right hand of the Father, and of judging men (Matt. xxvi. 63-65; Cf. Mark xiv. 61-64).

5° After His resurrection.

Speaking to the disciples going to Emmaus, He said: “O foolish and slow of heart to believe all things which the prophets have spoken. Ought not Christ to have suffered these things and so to enter into His glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets he expounded to them in all the scriptures the things that were concerning him” (Luke xxiv. 25, 26, 27, 44, 45). Here is a clear declaration of His Messiahship. Again He said to His disciples: “As the Father sent me I also send you” (John xx. 21).

Conclusion: These testimonies as Harnack allows (Essence of Christianity, p. 140) against Wellhausen are so interwoven with the narrative, that if they were removed, practically nothing would remain of the life of Christ, and His death could not be explained. There was no time for a process of idealisation, as the Apostles from the day of Pentecost taught that Jesus was the Messiah and the Author of life (Acts ii. 36; iii. 15). Catholic and conservative critics hold that the “Acts” were written by St. Luke before A.D. 70. Harnack gives two dates A.D. 78-83 or perhaps A.D. 60-70. It cannot be said with Loisy that Jesus only affirmed that He would be the Messiah of the future kingdom. In many texts already cited He declares Himself to be the Messiah. “The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed … which is the least of all seeds, but when it is grown up … becometh a tree” (Matt. xiii. 31). The Kingdom of God began by the preaching of Christ, was made glorious by His resurrection and ascension, and will be consummated after the last coming of the Messiah.