Today, focus is on the use by Jesus Christ of names and titles from prophecy when speaking of himself. A writer in the “Yahoo! Answers” forum using the ID “Michael” (Level 5 with 8,331 points, a member since July 08, 2014) posted the following:
Where does Jesus in the Bible calls himself God Almighty?
THE GOLDEN ARROW: Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews? Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me? Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all. (John 18: 33-38, King James Version, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Jesus Demonstrated Perfected Humanity (10/29/2017); Names For Sacred Persons? (08/01/2017); The New Testament Name (05/01/2017); Also Called “The Amen” (01/29/2017); The Title of “Savior” (01/27/2017); The Lion of Judah (01/22/2017); Blasphemy and The Cross? (03/10/2016); Jesus Known As Word (01/17/2016); The Lamb of GOD (08/19/2015); Use Holy Names Not Titles? (08/17/2015)
“Michael”, believers today often encounter confusion by the way Jesus is spoken of over the thousands of years of prophecy and the way he presented and spoke of himself. The title, “GOD Almighty” (El Shaddai) that appears in the Old Testament, was apparently used by divinity during the thousands of years Adam and the Patriarchs descended from him were alive on the earth. Where GOD enters into a new aspect of ongoing relationship with mankind through Abram, who is called the Friend of GOD, the Patriarch’s personal name is changed to Abraham, and the name of GOD to be used by men is changed to Jehovah. Other holy names and titles appear in the Scriptures that reflect the changes and operations of human history that may be “missed” and overlooked (e.g., the arm of the Lord; the zeal of the Lord); and some of the most powerful holy names attributed to Jesus Christ include “the mighty GOD, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.”
The Prophet Moses proclaimed that the tribes of Jacob and the mixed multitude of Gentiles that left Egypt together would become a nation to whom GOD would send a divine Prophet and spokesperson (King, Messiah). The title, “Christ”, has been used by believers in prophecy to say, “the anointed one,” the One Sent, and the one divinely anointed as Judge, King, High Priest, Prophet, and Messiah. Many acknowledge Jesus Christ to be an appearance of divine fullness using flesh and human form (we say, Incarnation). Jesus does label and title himself “the son of Man” (i.e., the son of Adam who is recorded as the first offspring and son of GOD). Also, many respected Jesus using the title “Son of David,” and even were willing to violently overthrow the government of King Herod and Rome in order to crown Jesus as David’s heir and rightful King over Israel. David was the son of Jesse named by many of the prophets, who himself reigned as king, and, like his son Solomon, also served as a divinely anointed judge, priest, and prophet.
One of the many curios aspects of Christian belief is that Jesus Christ was humble, meek, and avoided self-promotion, yet, went about accomplishing many of the most important deeds and works possible whereby a person could be recognized as sent from GOD, and genuinely divine in their own makeup and substance. The process of the Gospel was to be one of discovery, insight, public proclamation, and sharing by word-of-mouth. In addition to providing doctrine, prophecy and sacred lessons from GOD the Father, Jesus showed himself to be the Son of the Highest by healing the sick, feeding thousands, casting out devils, and restoring life to the dead. Not only did Jesus himself avoid boasting, bragging, and “vainglory”, he often required that others be discrete and not speak of his works on their behalf (until after his ministry would be concluded). When Jesus was directly confronted by the High Priest Caiaphas whether Jesus was the Christ, the Savior answered by prophesying. Consider again, then, the prophesies of Isaiah that spoke of Jesus using the name Immanuel (God With Us) and other points using language from the Bible:
(1.) Isaiah 11: 1-5, King James Version (KJV): 1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: 2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; 3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: 4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth: with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. 5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
(2.) Isaiah 11: 9-10, KJV: 9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. 10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.
(3.) Isaiah 9: 6-7, KJV: 6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
There is far more to be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (4.) Matthew 26: 62-66, KJV: 62 And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee? 63 But Jesus held his peace, And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. 64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. 65 Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. 66 What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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