“[Jesus] didn’t come to make your life marginally better. He came to extend the margins of your life infinitely. . . . What we imagined to be true about ourselves is rewritten because our identity is found in his eternal essence. We are not divine, but we share in his divine nature, imprinted by the very Spirit of God. We are sons and daughters of the divine Messiah.”- Kyle Idleman and Mark E. Moore
Kyle Idleman and Mark E. Moore conclude Chapter 8 of The Missing Messiah with the seventh surprise that reveals Jesus as greater than anyone imagined.
Surprise #7: Messiah Jesus is Yahweh. Finally, Kyle and Mark stress, Jesus’ deity represents the greatest messianic surprise. Because this surpassed the imaginative limits of Jewish expectations of the Messiah. And clues throughout Jesus’ ministry clearly pointed to His deity.
Hence, Isaiah 9:6 lists earthly descriptions of the Messiah (counselor, Prince of Peace) along with His divine attributes (Mighty God, Everlasting Father). However, rabbis typically interpreted this prophecy to refer to fulfillment by two separate entities. Even though no grammatical or linguistic reason exists to treat them as two different people.
Yet, Jesus and the apostles clarified what the Old Testament writers hinted at. That Jesus is more than a man. He is also divine.
In conclusion, Kyle and Mark explain:
“The evidence is clear. Jesus surpassed all messianic expectations of his time. He replaced the idea of a conquering hero with that of a Suffering Servant. Instead of defeating his enemies, he gave them the chance to become his allies. . . . Instead of merely gathering the twelve tribes, he expanded Israel’s borders. . . .
But the greatest surprise surpassed all others; his deity. Jesus the Messiah is the I Am. The humble carpenter from Nazareth proved to be more than anyone dared imagine.”
Today’s question: How does Jesus extend the margins of your life infinitely? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Revolutionary Messiah v personalized savior”