Reflections on the divinity of Jesus

So we have these interesting deliberations about the divinity of Jesus in church (and non-church) circles. Is Jesus God, or just the son of God? How possible is it that He was both man and God? Was He 10% man, 90% God, or 50:50, or [insert random ratio here]? Is there a real trinity? Is He truly equal with God?

There is a simple story - so simple it was actually written for and addressed to children - that I believe helps with perspective in understanding the divinity of Jesus:

"Imagine we bought a fish tank and put beautiful goldfishes into the tank. The fishes have all they need to survive - food, clean water - but they keep fighting and killing each other. 

We want to help the fishes and stop them from these acts against one another, and we decide one of us humans will turn into a fish, go into the pond, relate with the fishes in the language they understand, and show them how to stop hurting each other. 

We know that this human-turned-fish will accomplish this mission, but he will get killed in the process. We have the power to bring him back to life, so this is not such a big problem. But there is a catch: the human will be brought back to life - as a fish. He will remain forever a fish.

This person understands the assignment. He knows what he is going to face - changing into an inferior form, suffering and finally dying. And even after getting raised from the dead, that he will retain the body of the fish. And he agrees to take on the mission."

 This is why Jesus is still referred to as a human well after His resurrection (1 Timothy 2:5). He still has a human body, and will come back to reign on this earth as a king.

The last part also brings perspective to the Messianic Psalms (Psalm 2, 45, 72, etc.) and why God is intentional about handing Him full authority of the earth. Because He paid a huge price, He made a massive sacrifice unmatched by any other.

This is why His sacrifice is considered the ultimate (Revelation 5: 1-5). Which one of us would agree to trade a divine status with a body of flesh? This body of limitations, that we complain about, day in day out? Which one of us, if we were divine and given the choice of human parents and socio-economic conditions to be born in, would choose the lowly home of a poor carpenter? If we were given the choice of how to die, which one of us would agree to the humiliating and slow painful punishment of crucifixion, in the prime of our lives, surrounded by mockers and those that hated us?

I'll end with this reflection by Paul in the letter to the Philippians on the wonderful act of Jesus:

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

    (Philippians 2:5-11)

Halleluyah! Glory to God!