The Brazen Serpent: Nehushtan

August 14, 2023

During their forty-year sojourn in the wilderness, the children of Israel murmured and complained unto God and Moses numerous times. On one such occasion the Israelites spoke against God and Moses due to a lack of bread and water. They even went as far as to loathe the heavenly manna, or light bread, which God freely and faithfully provided for them and their needs each and every day. Because of the audacity that they displayed towards their creator and benefactor, the Bible tells us that the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people which bit them and even killed many of them (Numbers 21:6). Coming to their senses the people repented and asked Moses to pray unto the Lord, so that He would take the serpents away from them. Moses did pray, and the Lord in turn commanded Moses to make a serpent out of brass and place it upon a pole, so that anyone bitten who looked upon the brazen serpent would live and be cured of their affliction. As we shall see, this event concerning the brazen serpent as recorded in the Old Testament is symbolic of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ as found written in the New Testament. For when the Jewish leader and Pharisee Nicodemus spoke with Jesus one night, the Lord told him, “…as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up” (John 3:14). The attempt of this study will be to compare the healing and life saving elements of the brazen serpent, with the soul saving and sanctifying properties of the cross of Jesus Christ. So, let us turn now and look into these subjects a little deeper, and with God’s help may we be enlightened.

Now desert terrain is known to be inhabited by many cold-blooded reptiles including snakes. However, in all the years that the children of Israel wandered in the desert, at no other time was any Israelite ever bitten by a snake until we come to what happened in the 21st chapter of Numbers. So, it would appear that through Israel’s disobedience God lifted His holy protection and allowed His people to suffer. But in His mercy and loving kindness God provided a remedy for the people’s affliction. The remedy for ancient Israel’s venomous snake bite was to look upon a brazen serpent upon a pole, and for all of humanity today the remedy for our deadly sins is to look upon Christ crucified. Just as Israel of old had to look at the brazen serpent in order to be healed, so too must all men look to Christ for healing and salvation. Conversely speaking, the Israelites who would not look at the brazen serpent died, so too he who rejects or denies Christ will not see life, but the wrath of God abides upon him (John 3:36).

Continuing with the theme of God sending His people afflictions in order to bring them to repentance, we also find in the book of Revelation where the Lord sends forth plagues upon the sinful people living in the end times in the hopes that they too might also repent. Unfortunately, even though their torments are severe and the pain intense, the Bible informs us that these future inhabitants of the earth will not repent, “…of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts” (Revelation 9:21). Just as the heart-hardened and stiff-necked Israelites rejected the Lord’s means for their healing, so too will sinful men in the future refuse God’s plan of salvation, even-though they are sorely vexed with excruciating pain and plagued by unbearable sufferings (Revelation 16:9-11).

When analyzing the properties of the brazen serpent, we see that it was made out of brass: a metal which is a symbol for judgment, and that this piece of metal was forged in the shape or image of a snake: a symbol of evil or even that of the devil. It is interesting to note that it was a serpent which deceived Eve into eating the forbidden fruit and thus plunged the world and all of mankind into a fallen state. Yet God used the image of a serpent as an instrument to heal and to save, the very opposite of what the serpent did in the Garden of Eden. Going further, the Lord prophesied to the serpent telling this creature that God would put enmity between it and the woman, and between the serpent’s seed and the woman’s seed, and that the woman’s seed would bruise the head of the serpent (Genesis 3:15). Now the seed of the woman, which would bruise the head of the serpent, is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. What is even more revealing, concerning this passage from Genesis, is the description of Christ’s physical characteristics as found in the book of Revelation where it is written that Christ’s feet were, “…like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace” (Revelation 1:15). The fact that brass is a symbol of judgment and that Christ’s feet have the appearance of brass, then this means that the Lord Jesus has truly trampled upon the head of the serpent and has judged the prince of this world, keeping at bay all the machinations of the evil one firmly under His feet of brass.

After all the events surrounding the brazen serpent during the children of Israel’s wandering in the wilderness, further mention of this brass snake in all of the Torah (or five books of Moses) is nowhere to be found. However, several centuries later in Israel’s history, the brazen serpent is once again identified. For during the reign of Hezekiah king of Judah, the Bible relates how he did right in the sight if the Lord, by removing the high places and breaking in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made (II Kings 18:4). The purpose behind king Hezekiah destroying the brazen serpent was due to the children on Israel who burned incense to it, thus turning this object of healing into an idol. In addition to destroying the brazen serpent, the Bible also states that king Hezekiah called it Nehushtan. Though the direct meaning of the name Nehushtan is elusive, it is implied in the scriptures that this name for the brazen serpent was in fact derogatory, making the Nehushtan an object of scandal for Israel and not a symbol of honor for the nation.

Now several centuries have passed since the days of prophet Moses and king Hezekiah, but the image of a snake on a pole is a symbol used today in the modern world of health care, representing both healing and medicine. For the symbol of a snake on a rod, as found on the back of ambulances and EMS vehicles, represents the staff of Asclepius, who was an ancient Greek physician and who is also associated as the Greek god of medicine. Though the staff of Asclepius and the Nehushtan are nearly identical in appearance, the “Star of Life” symbol created by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) adapted their insignia to officially represent the rod of Asclepius as taken from Greek mythology and not the brazen serpent, or the Nehushtan from the Holy Bible.

In closing I would like to say that it is very interesting and also very ironic that the image of a snake has been used throughout the ages to represent health, when it was through a serpent that death entered into the world in the first place. And even if one doesn’t believe in Bible stories or Greek mythology the fact that an animal that can cause death is associated with healing, life, and even salvation is indeed a paradox. Maybe by pondering on things not quite so easily understood can we gradually bring ourselves into a life filled with mysteries and parables, just as Christ Himself taught the people by using parables. Both the events concerning the brazen serpent and the crucifixion of Jesus Christ are indeed mysteries, and life saving mysteries at that. For in both cases it is by faith that salvation was and is achieved.

On The Two Enochs In The Bible

July 31, 2023

Ever since the beginning of human existence on this earth, mankind has been divided into two separate genealogies or bloodlines. One bloodline which steamed from Cain, who killed his brother Abel, is regarded as cursed and wicked. While the other bloodline descending from Seth is acknowledged as righteous, from which the promised Messiah would ultimately descend from. Though there were two different people groups who lived during the period before the Great Flood, two individuals (one from each bloodline) would share the same name. And this name, which both the righteous and evil bloodlines shared, is none other than Enoch. The first Enoch mentioned in the Scriptures is the eldest son of Cain, and the second Enoch recorded is known as the seventh from Adam, who was also one of the ten righteous antediluvian patriarchs. In this work we will look into the significance of each of these two Biblical characters, and at the same time examine their differences. So now, let us take a journey back to the beginning of human civilization and get ourselves a little more acquainted with the two Enochs in the Bible.

After Cain murdered his brother Abel, the Bible informs us that, “…Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden” (Genesis 4:16). Now it is interesting to note that even before Cain and Abel were ever born, both Adam and Eve had been driven out of Eden through their disobedience. So the fact that the Bible makes an emphasis on Cain moving ever farther away from Eden, then this must mean that the more we sin the further we drift away from Paradise and away from the presence of God. It is also crucial to comprehend the fact that God cursed Cain and severely punished him due to his sin. So when the Bible says that Cain dwelt in the land of Nod, this could not only infer that Nod was indeed a physical location found somewhere on the planet, but this could also imply that spiritually speaking no matter where Cain dwelt on the earth he was living in the land of Nod, due to the curse that God had placed upon him. Thus the land of Nod where Cain dwelt was in the confines of his own inescapable guilty conscience.

Now when Cain was driven away from the presence of the LORD, he became a builder. For it is written, “…Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch” (Genesis 4:17). From this Biblical passage it is revealed that the name of the first city in the history of human civilization was called Enoch, named after Cain’s eldest son Enoch. This Enoch is not to be confused with the Enoch who walked with God and was then translated that he should not see death. However, though the Enoch of the wicked bloodline did not share in the blessings of long life as did the Enoch of the holy bloodline, the fact that a city was built which bore the name Enoch in a way granted Enoch the son of Cain immortality. As we see in other ancient literature such as the Babylonian Epic of Gilgamesh, the quest of everlasting life has always been a struggle for the human race. Though he strives for immortality, Gilgamesh is not granted it. Yet in the end Gilgamesh achieves a form of immortality through the city which he built, whose foundations would remain his lasting legacy long after he had died. So too could Cain have named the city he built after his son, in the attempt of making both his city and his son’s memory be eternal.

The name Enoch in the original Hebrew is pronounced Hanoch and means, “dedicated.” It also shares a linguistic relationship to the Hebrew word “Hanukkah”, the name of the Jewish holiday which commemorates the re-dedication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem (I Maccabees 4:52-59). In Arabic the name Enoch is known as Idris, and has the meanings of “studious”, “smart”, and “to learn or understand.” These titles are very appropriate when applied to the righteous Enoch, for one of the many legends that have come down to us concerning prophet Enoch is that he was the first among men who learned writing. Being the first prophet after Adam it is believed that Enoch wrote a book of prophecy which is known as the Book of Enoch. Many Bible scholars today doubt that it was Enoch himself who wrote this book, and thus they attribute authorship of the book of Enoch to ancient Jewish scribes. While the Greek Orthodox Church does not believe the book of Enoch to be inspired, it is included within the Canon of Scriptures held to be inspired by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.

Returning to Enoch the son of Cain, there seems to be no other record of him in the Bible apart from the city which his father built and named after him. Similarly, not much of the life of righteous Enoch is recorded in the Bible either. However, even though prophet Enoch is only given a brief mention in the Scriptures, he is widely spoken of in religious circles. Many believe Enoch to be one of the Two Witnesses mentioned in the book of Revelation who preach during the Great Tribulation in the era of the Antichrist. Along with the prophet Elijah, Enoch is the only other person in history who has not died, and thus their martyrdom at the hands of the Antichrist will fulfill the Scriptures which state that all must die (Hebrews 9:27). Though the wicked bloodline of Cain was destroyed by the Flood in the days of Noah, the disobedient spirit of Cain has survived even to this day. For when Christ returns he will separate the sheep from the goats (the good from the bad). The sheep will abide with the Lord forever in Paradise, while the goats will suffer for all of eternity in hell. So when it all comes down to it there are truly only two types of people in this world: the righteous Enochs and the wicked Enochs.

 

References:

Burns, R.I. The Book of Enoch: Messianic Prophecy Edition. (San Francisco, CA: SagesWorks Press, 2017).

Brown, R.K. The Book of Enoch. (Nashville, Tennessee: James C. Winston Publishing Company, Inc., 1997).

Cambridge University Press. The Apocrypha, Authorized King James Version. (Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press, 1992).

Holy Bible: Ethiopic Version. (Saderingrad Productions, 2007).

Kush, I.K. Enoch the Ethiopian. (Buffalo, New York: Eworld Inc., 2000).

Zondervan. The Holy Bible, King James Version. (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2009).

Was the Persian Overthrow of Babylon an Inside Job?

July 3, 2023

As most students of history and Biblical studies will tell you, the Persian Empire overthrew the Babylonian Empire way back in the mid-6th century BC. However, a certain theory which explains how the Persians accomplished their victory over the Babylonians is not as commonly discussed. For the city of Babylon was protected by massive walls and secured by two large leaved gates of brass that were submerged deep into the Euphrates River, which also aided the city against foreign invasion. Additionally these gates were shut at night and reinforced by huge iron bars. So, since the Persians were so easily able to march into Babylon and take the entire city in just one night, then they must have had help from within the walls of Babylon in order to penetrate the two thick gates of brass which made the city virtually impregnable. The following presentation will attempt to briefly summarize the theory of how Babylon fell by taking a deeper look into the historical records which pertain to the ancient city of Babylon and her ultimate overthrow by the Persians, who were lead by that legendary figure of history: Cyrus the Great.

Ancient Babylon was home to the pagan priesthood of the god Marduk. But the Babylonia ruler Nabonidus was despised by the priests of his realm, due to the king’s introduction of foreign gods into the empire which threatened the supremacy of the Babylonian god Marduk. Because of the adoption of new deities into the territories of Babylonia the power of the Babylonian priesthood, which administered the rights of worship and sacrifices to Marduk, found itself in great peril. Though the priests of Marduk were in danger of losing their control over politics, an opportunity arose which would secure their power and position. For when the news traveled to Babylon, concerning the threatening approach of king Cyrus’ army into the great city, a revolt broke out and Nabonidus quickly collected all the various idols of his gods and fled out from amongst the borders of Babylon.

For it was in the year 539 BC, that king Cyrus of Persia managed to enter Babylon along with the assistance of a couple of Babylonian traitors who (it can be argued) made the Persian overthrow of Babylon an inside job. For according to the writings of the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, these turncoats were able to divert the Euphrates River into a new channel allowing the Persian army to march over the dry riverbed and into the city, while the Babylonians were preoccupied in the revelry and drunkenness of a party dedicated to their gods. And this story, taken directly from the historical record of ancient Babylon, is also recorded in the 5th chapter of the book of Daniel as found within the pages of the Holy Bible. For it was the proverbial “writing on the wall” that the prophet Daniel was able to decipher which proclaimed God’s judgment upon the kingdom of Babylon, and her ultimate demise as an ancient world power.

Now the two Babylonian traitors, who helped the Persian king enter the city, may in fact have been employed by the priests of Marduk. For these priests found themselves with no other choice but to tolerate the worship of the other gods brought into Babylon by Nabonidus. And even after Nabonidus had left the country, his son Belshazzar reigned in his place and he also continued in the worship of and the service to his father’s gods. This in turn only bred resentment in the hearts of the priests of Marduk against prince Belshazzar. Biblically speaking, the plot to divert the river by unlocking the gates of the city was prophesied by Jeremiah. For the prophet wrote of how the men of Babylon would not fight and that the bars of Babylon would be broken (Jeremiah 51:30). The prophet Isaiah also foretold of how God would use the king of the Persians, “..to subdue the nations…and…to open…the two leaved gates” (Isaiah 45:1). Thus through a conspiracy plotted and executed by it’s very own priesthood, was the Babylonian Empire conquered by the Persian Empire.

From what has been presented in this treatise of ancient revisionist history, it can be strongly argued that there is indeed a power which lurks behind the throne. Though the king of Babylon possessed material power over the empire, he was not all powerful. For the priesthood also held a political monopoly when it came to the religious practices and other administrative duties involving the king and the people. For in all civilizations throughout history do we see monarchy’s ultimately answering and bowing down to religious leadership. As we have seen, if the king rebels and the priests don’t get their way, then these religious conspirators put their magic to work by toppling the disobedient ruler and craftily install a figurehead (or puppet) who is keen on dancing to any tune the masters play. And ancient Babylon was a prime example of this gross abuse of power. As there is no new thing under the sun this ruling class struggle for power will continue until the end of history. For as prophesied in the Bible, the final world religious/political system is appropriately titled: MYSTERY BABYLON.

 

References:

Daniel, E. The History of Iran. (Westport, Connecticut: The Greenwood Histories of the Modern Nations, 2001).

Daniel, J. Scarlet and the Beast Vol. II. (Tyler, TX: JKI Publishing, 1994).

Zondervan. The Holy Bible, King James Version. (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2009).

The Ashkenazi Jews & The Khazarian Empire

June 19, 2023

After the Romans burned the Second Temple and destroyed Jerusalem in 70 AD, thousands of the surviving Jewish inhabitants fled Judaea and settled in other areas throughout the Mediterranean and elsewhere. Over the passage of time a significant number of Jews established themselves in Germany, primarily in the area known as the Rhineland. During the Medieval period the Jews living in Germany identified themselves as Ashkenazim. The German Jews adopted the title of Ashkenaz for a couple of reasons: one, to distinguish themselves from other Jewish communities, such as the Sephardic Jews of Spain, and to signify the geographical location in which they built a civilization. For the name Ashkenaz is found in the Bible, where in Genesis 10:3 Ashkenaz is listed as the grandson of Japheth, one of the three sons of Noah. Now traditionally speaking it is believed that the descendants of Japheth went on to settle within the territories of Europe, after God came down and confused the languages at Babel. And this European location (namely the Rhineland) was discerned by the Jews as the land of Ashkenaz. Additionally, though the Jews claim descent from Shem (Noah’s second son) these Semitic peoples took upon themselves a non-Semitic title in order to cement their identity as European Jewry.

Even-though what has been presented thus far regarding the origins of the Ashkenazi Jews may stem from a more mainstream account, there has also come down to us a quite popular theory which associates the Ahkenazi Jews with a Turkic tribe which originated from Central Asia, who in turn converted to Judaism in the 8th century of the common era. And these Turkish converts to Judaism are identified as the Khazars. The Khazars were a semi-nomadic people who eventually developed into an empire, beginning in the 6th century until they were defeated by the Kievan Rus in the 10th century, and soon afterwards seem to mysteriously disappear from history. At its epoch the Khazarian Empire encompassed the territories between the Black and Caspian Seas, and stretched from the Caucus Mountains to the south, all the way up to the Volga River in the north. Before their conversion to Judaism around the year 740 AD, the Khazars practiced a form of shamanism much like the other Turkic tribes of Central Asia. Now there has come down to us a splendid story, or legend rather, which tells the tale of how the Khazars became a Jewish nation. For during the reign of the Khazarian king Bulan, the religions of Christianity and Islam were the dominant faiths in the region. Wanting to adopt a more organized religion for his people, the Kagan or king of the Khazars heard the religious arguments of a Christian Priest, a Muslim Imam, and a Jewish Rabbi. The Khazar Kagan ultimately chose Judaism over Christianity and Islam, due to Judaism being the root religion of the two other faiths. Thus in the mid-8th century AD did the Turkish Khazars become Jews by mass conversion.

Returning to the Ashkenazim, it has been recorded that tens of thousands of Ashkenazi Jews migrated out of the Rhineland in the beginning of the 15th century and then settled in parts of Eastern Europe, such as Poland and Lithuania for example. But even before this Ashkenazi migration into Eastern Europe, there had been Jewish settlements in Ukraine going all the way back to the 7th century. It has also been argued that the Jewish presence in Eastern Europe and the various areas of Western Russia did not come from Ashkenazi Jews migrating from Germany, but rather this Jewish element derived its genesis from the Turkish Khazars, who’s empire was once directly located in-between the geographical setting of Eastern Europe and Russia, where Jewish communities had later been established. So instead of Ashkenazi Jews migrating out of Germany, making up the Jewish populations of Eastern Europe and Russia, the Jews in these territories could have actually been the remnants of the Khazars. This hypothesis could also explain why the Khazars disappeared from the historical record after they were conquered by the Rus in the 10th century. If this theory is correct, then the majority of the European and Russian Jews are not Ashkenazim, but rather Khazarian.

Now it is of no surprise that the bulk of modern day Ashkenazi Jews disagree with this Jewish/Khazarian claim, which in turn has sparked debate among Jewish intellectuals, who do indeed provide strong arguments in the support of their genuine Jewish origins and at the same time debunk the belief which teachers that Ashkenazi Jews are in fact racially Turkish, and therefore a non-Semitic people. One such argument against the Jewish/Khazar link states that, because there are no linguistic similarities between the Jewish dialect of Yiddish in comparison to the various Turkish languages, then there can be no Turkic origins in relation to the German or European Jews. Another argument in support of the Jewishness of the Ashkenazim has to do with cultural elements. For the cuisine, music, and literature of the Ashkenazi Jews are completely bereft of any Turkish elements. Additionally, the Jewish theory of how they settled in Germany relates that the Jews originally migrated from the Middle East via Italy into Germany and not through Khazaria.

In conclusion, the theory of the Ashkenazi Jews descending from the Turkish Khazars is indeed very controversial, and also extremely insulting towards the Jewish people as a whole. It has not been my attempt to usurp the racial and religious integrity of the Ashkenazi Jews, but rather it has been the job of this historian to unbiasedly present an alternative version of history which challenges the mainstream narrative. Whether this story is true or false, the intent here has been to raise awareness of a belief held by many, which is also being taught in the field of what is known as revisionist history. That being said I will leave it up to the individual to either accept, reject, or better yet inspire one to do their own research into this subject and come to their own conclusions. For as it is said, “the truth is out there!”

 

References:

HaLevi, Y. The Kuzari: In Defense of the Despised Faith. (Spring Valley, NY: Feldheim Publishers, 2013).

Koestler, A. The Thirteenth Tribe. (New York, NY: Random House, 1976).

O Muslim, Did Jesus Indeed Say, “I Am God Worship Me”?

June 5, 2023

The following presentation is a response and a rebuttal to the Muslim argument which preaches that Jesus never said, “I am God worship Me.”

In recent days Muslims all across the globe have suddenly presented an argument that they say proves that Jesus was not God in the flesh, and that argument is stated as follows: Where in the Bible did Jesus say, “I am God worship Me?” Islamic scholars have even gone so far as to say that if someone can show them where in the Gospel Jesus said “I am God worship Me,” that they will get baptized immediately! Now even though Jesus may not have uttered the exact words which Muslims have argued He never said, this doesn’t mean that Jesus never claimed to be divine or that He did not desire or allow others to worship Him. This work will attempt to defend the divinity of Jesus Christ as expressed in the Bible and reveal how Jesus was in fact worshiped all throughout the Gospels.

For a man to stand up before a crowd and make the statement, “I am God worship Me” would most certainly guarantee this person to be either insane, narcissistic, or both. So for God to incarnate as man, He would most likely need to be a little more gracious in order for people to take Him seriously. God the Father is humble and Jesus Christ as the Son of God is also humble. Christ never forced people to worship Him nor did He force others to believe in Him, but rather left it up to the individual to either believe in Him or to reject Him. Jesus never made an arrogant statement about Himself, but His actions and His miracles were enough evidence to reveal Jesus’ divinity without Him having to make a roaring declaration in order to prove that He was God nor to demand that all should worship Him as God. There were times however, when Jesus was left with no other choice than to confess that He was in fact the Son of God, such as He did during His trial before the Sanhedrin for example (Mark 14:61-62). Though Christ made no statement that believers should worship Him, Jesus did not hinder His followers when they did worship Him. That being said, let us now take a deeper look into the Gospels where we find that Jesus was indeed worshiped as Lord and as God.

In the opening verses of the second chapter of the Gospel according to St. Matthew, we witness men worshiping Jesus Christ even when He was just a newborn baby. For it is written, “Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him” (Matthew 2:1-2). So even before Jesus was born men of understanding traveled afar in order to worship Him as the King of the Jews: The Messiah. Additionally, the Magi were not the only Gentiles who worshiped Christ, for a Canaanite woman worshiped Jesus when pleading with Him to heal her daughter who was vexed with a devil (Matthew 15:25). Among His fellow Jews, Jesus identified Himself as the Son of God to a blind man that He gave sight to. Once the former blind man believed in Jesus as the Son of God the Gospel says that he worshiped Jesus (John 9:35-38). Going further, after His resurrection Jesus met His disciples, “saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshiped him” (Matthew 28:9). So here we see that even though Jesus did not tell people plainly to worship Him as God, the individuals who recognized Him as the Christ took it upon themselves to give Him the honor and praise that was His just due, and in turn Jesus accepted their worship and did not admonish them for worshiping Him.

Now when someone begins to study any sacred text, it is severely inappropriate for mortal men to approach God, God’s Word, or one of God’s holy prophets and demand a word from them that would generate a belief system based on one’s own terms and on one’s own limited human understanding. For a Muslim to say I won’t become a Christian unless I see in the Bible where Jesus says I am God worship Me, would be like a Christian saying I won’t become a Muslim unless I read in the Qur’an where Mohammad says I came to save the world and to give my life as a ransom for many. So for a person who adheres to one religion to go and compare their faith to the faith of another religion, then there will of course be differences of beliefs and opinions found in that foreign faith. But to project a differing personal viewpoint towards another religion without thoroughly studying that faith, only gives birth to a weak argument that is based on a desperate attempt to foil the teachings found in that separate religion.

When studying the Gospel, the description of Jesus Christ as the Son of God is clearly expressed and His worship as Lord and God by others is also vividly outlined. For example, after His resurrection Jesus appeared to His disciples and Thomas (who had previously doubted that Christ rose from the dead) upon seeing the wounds in Jesus’ glorified body realized that Jesus was indeed divine and exclaimed unto Him, “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28). Also after Jesus sent His disciples out to preach, they returned and told Jesus that some people were saying that He was Elijah or one of the prophets. But when Jesus asked the disciples who they thought He was, “Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). Jesus even referred to Himself as the Son of God in John 10:36, and also spoke of Himself as the Christ in Luke 24:46. But the most telling of all passages found in the Gospel which solidifies the Godhood of Jesus is found in John 8:58, where Jesus tells the Jews that, “Before Abraham was, I AM.” This statement made by Christ reveals that Jesus is indeed the Great I AM, who appeared unto Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:14).

In conclusion, after scanning all the verses quoted from the Gospel in this brief work, a clear case has been made for the Christian doctrine which holds that Jesus is in fact the Son of God and that He is worshiped and accepts worship. The argument which expresses that Jesus never said “I am God worship Me,” is an attempt to twist the sayings of Jesus found in the Gospel and to brazenly put words in God’s mouth instead of reading the Gospel honestly and accepting the teachings of Who Jesus truly is according to what has been outlined in the holy scriptures. Jesus is the Word of God, the second person of the Holy Trinity which is one in essence and undivided. Before His incarnation, Christ Jesus was always in the very bosom of God the Father from eternity past. For as it is written in John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” And in the book of Revelation Jesus refers to Himself as the “Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending…the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8). So from the very mouth of Jesus it is revealed that He is Almighty God and is worshiped according to His divinity as one of the Holy Trinity, Who is glorified together with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Amen.