OneGod: I will answer ALL your claims one by one ok? Patience. Ask things one bit at a time.
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Jesus clearly claimed to be the Messiah and Son of God:
Jesus told the Samaritan woman that he is the Messiah (Jn 4:25-26)
Jesus affirmed Peter's statement that he is the Messiah and Son of God (Mt 16:15-17, see also Mk 8:29-30, Lk 9:20-21)
Jesus told the high priest that he is the Messiah and Son of God (Mk 14:61-62, Mt 26:63-64, Lk 22:70)
The Jews understood that this meant Jesus was equating himself with God: "he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God" (Jn 5:17-18).
Other places where Jesus equated himself with God:
Jesus told the Jews, "I and the Father are one." (Jn 10:24-38)
Jesus told the disciples, "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am." (Jn 13:13)
Jesus forgave sins, which only God had the authority to do (Mk 2:5-11, Lk 5:20-24)
Jesus said that he had seen Abraham and that he is eternal: "'I tell you the truth,' Jesus answered, 'before Abraham was born, I am!'" (Jn 8:57-58)
Jesus said that he had seen God, which no one else could do (Jn 6:46)
Some people have used Matthew 22:41-46 (also Mk 12:35-37, Lk 20:41-44) to say that Jesus denied he was the Messiah:
While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, "What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?"
"The son of David," they replied.
He said to them, "How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him 'Lord'? For he says, "'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet."' If then David calls him 'Lord,' how can he be his son?" No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.
Actually, this passage demonstrates that the Messiah has to be divine. The way to resolve the apparent contradiction between Psalm 110 and Isaiah 11 is for the Messiah to be divinity in human form: biologically a descendent of David, but divine and thus David's Lord
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You asked why Jesus also 'prayed' to God? Heres the answer to that question ...
QUESTION:
Jesus had the habit of prayer as is clear from the following references: Luke 5:16,9:28,11:1-2, Matthew 21:22. All supplications of Jesus and his disciples were addressed to God the Father. Obviously, therefore, there was no equality between the supplicant and Him to Whom supplication was addressed. God had the power to respond to supplication and grant it. Quite obviously Jesus lacked such power, for indeed if he had possessed that power, his supplication to God would have been meaningless. Had he been the second person in the Trinity, and therefore, God, he would have been in no need to supplication, as he would have had the power to do all that he wished. This is well illustrated in his repeated supplications in the garden of Gethsemane when he fell on his face and prayed. ( Matthew 26:39)
ANSWER:
Before I answer this question, I would like to say some things. Christianity is nearly 2000 years old and throughout its history, the central beliefs have remained very close to what they were since its advent. For instance, we know that the Christian belief that Jesus was God come in the flesh that exists today in our creeds and catechisms is also found in the earliest Christian writings that we have available. Thus, one can assume that we have been thinking about this issue for a while. Many great intellectuals have believed in Christianity (e.g. Origen, Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Blaise Pascal, Søren Kierkegaard, etc.). So, don’t be so surprised that we have actually thought about this issue before. This is not exactly a shocker! Christian belief did not come about through some arbitrary dogmatic decrees; rather, it came about through serious investigation of Jesus’ and the Apostles’ message that we have recorded in the New Testament.
Christians adamantly assert that Jesus was a human being and never have we ever tried to hide this fact. He was fully human in every possible manner. He was not kind of or sort of human, he was not a fake human, but he was a real human. People would not walk up to Jesus of Nazareth and suddenly exclaim, “This man is God!” The glory of the eternal Christ was veiled during his time on earth, save the Transfiguration (Mk 9) and Resurrection. Christians also declare that Jesus of Nazareth lived as the Incarnate God on earth. He was fully God in every way. He never stopped being God; however, he never ceased to be a human as well while on Earth.
I said all of this to say that if he was a human it is no surprise to learn that he prayed. Humans were meant to pray to God and to be in right relationship with him. Jesus fulfilled this role as a perfect human being. Is God talking to himself? Christians are monotheists; however, we do believe there exists plurality within the Godhead. For example, consider this verse from Genesis, “Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness” (Gen. 1.26a). This is a classical example. Though some interpret “us” as a royal plural, substantiation for this claim is not found within the Hebrew Bible, for no consistent use of the royal is plural can be found throughout the Hebrew Bible as in, for example, the Qur’an. If Christ had power, would he, therefore, never need to implore for God’s help? Jesus Christ was a human being. He was weak and needed the help of the Father. Being a human, Jesus possessed every instinct we have as human beings (e.g. the need to eat, to sleep, even to survive). Often we must act contrary to our own instincts as moral people. Both Christians and Muslims know this because we both highly value the moral lifestyle. Our wills subjugate our instincts quite often; however, the human will is weak and needs the help of the Creator. Jesus human will was often weak, though He always knew what to do. He invoked the name and power of His Father to be with him as a human being who needs God. I do not see why this is so strange. This following hymn was sung by the earliest Christians to explain the nature of Jesus Christ’s Incarnation and is now only found in the Bible,
Who, though he was in the form of God,
Did not regard equality with God
As something to be exploited.
But emptied himself,
Taking the form of a slave.
Being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
He humbled himself
And became obedient to the point of death—
Even death on a cross. (Philippians 2.6-8)
Christ himself spoke of this in a prayer to the Father, “I glorified you [i.e. the Father] on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed” (John 17.4, 5; cf. John 1.1-3). And this the Father did, we read in Matthew 28.18 Jesus says, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”
I often hear this comment or a similar version thereof, “So God was talking to Himself—asking Himself for help?” This question is misleading because it appears to view the situation from the Islamic point of view; whereas, the doctrine of the Incarnation only works under a Trinitarian umbrella. I admit that the doctrine is incompatible with Tauhid; however, it is a Christian and not an Islamic doctrine. Within the understanding of the three ‘persons’ of the God, we believing in the relation of the persons. This can be seen in events like Jesus’ Baptism (Mk 1.9-11), but I think it is best demonstrated by the words of Jesus:
All things have been handed over to me
by my Father; and no one knows the Son
except the Father, and no one knows the
Father except the Son and anyone to
whom the Son chooses to reveal him. (Matthew 11.27)
There is, therefore, and interrelating of the members of Trinity, and this is just a glimpse at the multifarious ways one can demonstrate their absolute unity. Jesus’ prayer life, as God, is an outworking of this godly existence and Godhood that is unique to Him alone.
For centuries, Christians have viewed Jesus as the model of a perfect prayer life. He never neglected to seek the Father and the Spirits strength during His ministry. This facet of his life we have never attempted to sweep under the rug or gloss over. We have preached and teached upon the very fact as goals for our devotion to God. Jesus is our Supreme Lord, but he is also our supreme example.
Is that clear now why Jesus prayed to God? Can you honestly answer yes or no and then i will continue to answer all your other questions my friend.
Thank you.