Title: Jesus the God-Man: The Unity and Diversity of the Gospel Portrayals
Author: Darrell L. Bock and Benjamin I. Simpson
TLDR: This book delves into the Gospels, exploring the various facets of Jesus’s life and teachings, revealing his unique authority as the Son of God and Son of Man. It examines his message of the kingdom, his challenging actions, the titles attributed to him, and the ethical demands of discipleship, ultimately affirming the unity and coherence of the Gospel portraits despite their diversity.
Chapter 1: Preparation: Birth, John the Baptist, and the Temptations
This chapter establishes the preparatory framework for Jesus’s ministry. While John’s Gospel unveils Jesus’s divinity from the first verse, the Synoptics begin with Jesus’s humanity and his identification with Jewish hopes. Mark begins with John the Baptist’s ministry and Jesus’s baptism, framing Jesus’s ministry within the context of eschatological hope and repentance. John the Baptist, whose ministry is corroborated by Josephus, called Israel to prepare for the coming kingdom, a message Jesus endorsed through his baptism.
Matthew and Luke delve into Jesus’s birth, emphasizing the fulfillment of divine promises. Matthew highlights messianic prophecies and parallels between Jesus’s life and Israel’s history, showcasing Jesus as the fulfillment of Micah 5:2 (born in Bethlehem), Hosea 11:1 (called out of Egypt), and Isaiah 7:14 (“God with us” born of a virgin). Luke, while also depicting a virgin birth, focuses less on explicit prophecies and more on scripturally-rooted hymns that celebrate the fulfillment of God’s plan. These hymns, such as Mary’s Magnificat and Zechariah’s Benedictus, invoke the Abrahamic and Davidic covenants, framing Jesus as the promised Davidic king.
The baptism of Jesus in all Synoptics is accompanied by a heavenly voice, marking Jesus as both royal Son (Psalm 2:7) and suffering Servant (Isaiah 42:1), foreshadowing the unexpected nature of his ministry. The Spirit descends upon Jesus, equipping him for his mission and confirming his prophetic connection to God’s will.
Finally, all Synoptics recount Jesus’s temptation in the wilderness, highlighting the cosmic battle between good and evil that undergirds his ministry. Mark provides a summary account, while Matthew and Luke give detailed narratives, though in differing order. Luke explicitly connects Jesus’s temptation to Adam’s failure in Genesis 3, presenting Jesus as the victorious representative of humanity. This event, placed before the launch of Jesus’s ministry, establishes the spiritual nature of his mission and the relentless opposition he will face from unseen forces.
Chapter 2: Jesus’s Central Message: The Kingdom of God
This chapter examines Jesus’s central message: the kingdom of God. Although the phrase itself is absent from the Hebrew Scriptures, the concept of God’s rule is prominent throughout the Old Testament. God is portrayed as king, ruling over Israel and the creation, possessing a throne, and reigning eternally. This rule, however, is not fully realized in the present but anticipated for the future. Daniel 2 and 7 speak of a coming kingdom, not made with human hands, that surpasses earthly kingdoms.
Second Temple Judaism held diverse views of the coming kingdom, often linked to messianic hope, but always connected to judgment and the vindication of the righteous. Some texts envisioned a political messiah overthrowing earthly oppressors, while others depicted a cosmic deliverer vanquishing spiritual forces.
Jesus preached into this complex backdrop, developing the Old Testament kingdom concept along new lines. His usage of the term is “tensive” (variable) yet grounded in a “static” (fixed) base meaning. Jesus built upon the fundamental Jewish understanding of God’s ultimate rule, filling it with new details and nuances. This chapter explores various facets of his kingdom teaching, often challenging interpretations that force either-or choices.
One such debate surrounds the nature of the kingdom: a remade new world or a renewed earthly order. Jesus’s teaching draws on both prophetic and apocalyptic strands of Jewish hope. He uses apocalyptic imagery, like the Son of Man coming on the clouds (Mark 13:26), indicating a cosmic, transcendent intervention. Yet, he also stresses God’s present work in this world, particularly through his own ministry and the parables that depict the kingdom as a seed being sown and growing gradually.
Another debate concerns the timing of the kingdom: present, future, or both? While most kingdom references point to a future consummation, some texts suggest its present inauguration. Jesus’s miracles, particularly exorcisms, demonstrate the inbreaking of God’s power and the defeat of Satan’s influence. He declares in Luke 17:21 that the kingdom is not to be sought through signs but is “in your midst,” referring to his own presence. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit, another key marker of the new era, further signifies the kingdom’s present reality.
Chapter 3: The Nature of the Kingdom: Presence, Realm, Ethics, Messiah, and the Father
This chapter delves deeper into the nature of the kingdom, exploring the concepts of presence, realm, ethics, the Messiah, and God the Father. Building on the previous chapter’s assertion of the kingdom’s dynamic presence through divine power and authority, the chapter argues that the realm of the kingdom operates on multiple levels. It encompasses future hopes tied to Israel’s restoration, a present, invisible realm at work in the community of believers, and a “claimed realm” encompassing all humanity accountable to God’s ultimate judgment.
Several texts suggest Israel’s inclusion in the kingdom. The choosing of the Twelve, Jesus’s pronouncements about their future role judging Israel, and the early church’s continued hope for the nation all point to a future restoration for Israel. Banquet imagery, associated with end-time victory and fellowship, further reinforces the connection to Jewish hopes. However, texts like Luke 13:28-29, which depict Gentiles joining the banquet table while some in Israel are excluded, and Matthew 21:33-46, the parable of the wicked tenants, suggest that the kingdom’s reach extends beyond Israel to encompass all nations.
This chapter argues that the present “invisible realm” of the kingdom operates within the community of believers—the “wheat” sown by the Son of Man. It represents a sacred space within a fallen world, marked by the transforming work of the Holy Spirit and a distinct set of values and priorities. This community, later called the church, bears witness to God’s presence and serves as a precursor to the kingdom’s full manifestation in the future.
Finally, the chapter examines the ethical implications of kingdom living. Jesus’s teachings on faith, repentance, following him at all costs, imitating God’s character, and seeking reward all demonstrate that the kingdom demands a total response. He emphasizes humility, dependence on God, love for neighbor and enemy, forgiveness, generosity, and service.
This chapter concludes by highlighting the attributes of God as Father, drawing on Jesus’s unique use of the term to emphasize God’s intimate, relational nature. The Father knows, seeks, invites, vindicates, judges, and provides for his children. Jesus’s intimate relationship with the Father, evident in his prayers and teachings, forms a bridge to understanding his own unique identity and authority.
Chapter 4: Jesus’s Titles: Who Is Jesus?
This chapter explores the various titles associated with Jesus in the Gospels, emphasizing how his actions, rather than self-proclamations, reveal his identity. It begins by acknowledging the diverse interpretations of Jesus’s self-understanding in modern scholarship, ranging from Cynic-like philosopher to messianic reformer. The chapter argues that none of these categories fully capture the complexity of Jesus’s portrait in the Gospels.
The chapter surveys several key titles: Rabbi-Teacher, Prophet, Son of David, Messiah, Christ, King of the Jews, Servant, Holy One, Shepherd, Lord, Son of God, and Son of Man. While the Synoptic Gospels focus on how people perceived Jesus based on his actions, John’s Gospel explicitly presents Jesus as divine from the outset.
Titles like Rabbi and Teacher, frequently used by both followers and observers, underscore the importance of teaching in Jesus’s ministry. However, the observation that Jesus taught with unparalleled authority and commanded obedience, points to him being more than a mere teacher.
Many saw Jesus as a prophet, comparing him to Elijah or John the Baptist. Jesus himself embraced the prophetic mantle, fulfilling Isaiah 61:1-2 in his synagogue sermon (Luke 4:16-30). However, Jesus transcended the prophetic role. He not only announced the coming kingdom but inaugurated it, possessing an authority over the law and the temple that went beyond the scope of a prophet.
The titles Son of David, Messiah, Christ, and King of the Jews all evoke regal, messianic expectations. While Jesus accepted these titles, he often restricted their public proclamation, a phenomenon known as the “messianic secret.” This restriction stemmed from the diverse and often inadequate conceptions of the Messiah in Second Temple Judaism and Jesus’s own understanding of his messianic role as encompassing suffering before exaltation.
Other titles like Servant, Holy One, and Shepherd further point to Jesus’s unique relationship to God and his mission to redeem humanity. The Servant imagery, particularly allusions to Isaiah 53, foreshadows Jesus’s suffering and sacrificial death. The title Holy One, used by demons and Peter, highlights Jesus’s divine nature. The Shepherd imagery, rooted in Ezekiel 34 and John 10, emphasizes Jesus’s role as a caring leader who guides his flock.
The title Lord, though used sparsely in the Synoptics, points to Jesus’s divine authority and close connection to God, an association that becomes explicit after the resurrection. John’s Gospel also reveals this shift, reserving the full significance of “Lord” for the resurrection appearances.
The title Son of God, full of ambiguity due to its royal and divine implications, serves as a key bridge to understanding Jesus’s full identity. The Synoptics present Jesus claiming God as his Father and revealing the Father to others, while John explicitly portrays Jesus as Son throughout his ministry.
Finally, the title Son of Man, Jesus’s favored self-designation, uniquely combines human and divine elements, drawing on the imagery of Daniel 7:13-14. This title encompasses Jesus’s entire ministry, including his present authority, suffering, and future role as judge.
The chapter concludes by pointing to the rare direct use of the title God for Jesus in John 1:1 and Thomas’s confession in John 20:28. While the Synoptics rarely use “God” explicitly, they depict Jesus performing actions that are typically attributed to God, such as forgiving sins and claiming authority over the Sabbath, leading to accusations of blasphemy.
Chapter 5: Jesus’s Teaching and Actions: Showing Who He Is
This chapter focuses on Jesus’s actions as the primary revelation of his identity, arguing that his deeds, rather than self-proclamations, demonstrate his divine authority and unique role in God’s plan. The chapter examines eleven significant actions: association with tax collectors and sinners, forgiveness of sins, Sabbath healings, exorcisms, the scope of Jesus’s miracles, reinterpreting purity practices, reinterpreting the Law, redesigning liturgy, temple cleansing, suffering and the cross, and vindication through resurrection.
Jesus challenged traditional Jewish boundaries by welcoming outcasts and associating with those deemed ritually unclean or sinners, including tax collectors, Samaritans, and Gentiles. This radical inclusivity contradicted the prevailing notions of purity and righteousness and demonstrated God’s gracious acceptance of those who recognize their need for him.
Jesus further challenged Jewish authorities by claiming the ability to forgive sins, a prerogative traditionally reserved for God. His pronouncements of forgiveness, particularly in the healing of the paralytic and the story of the sinful woman anointing him, sparked accusations of blasphemy, forcing a decision about his true identity.
Jesus’s actions on the Sabbath, particularly healing on the holy day, also ignited controversy. While some defended such acts as permissible within Jewish tradition, Jesus’s declaration of being “lord of the Sabbath” implied an authority over the law that transcended human interpretation.
Jesus’s exorcisms, portrayed as victories over Satan’s influence, provided a vivid demonstration of God’s power at work in his ministry. He linked exorcisms to the coming of the kingdom, depicting his ministry as part of a cosmic battle between good and evil.
Beyond Sabbath healings and exorcisms, the scope of Jesus’s miracles encompassed healing a wide range of diseases, raising the dead, and controlling nature, demonstrating his comprehensive authority over creation. Jesus himself pointed to these miracles as evidence of his identity and mission, answering John the Baptist’s question about his messiahship by listing his miraculous deeds.
Jesus also challenged traditional purity practices, reinterpreting Leviticus 15 and arguing that defilement originates from the heart, not external rituals. His prioritization of ethical values over ritual purity, exemplified in the handwashing controversy (Mark 7:1-23), further demonstrated his authority to reinterpret the Law.
Jesus’s teaching on the Law, while upholding its ethical core, demonstrated his freedom to set aside, intensify, or reprioritize specific commandments based on his understanding of God’s will. His teachings on divorce, the greatest commandment, and the Sermon on the Mount all highlight his unique interpretive authority.
Jesus’s redesigning of the Passover meal into the Last Supper exemplifies his authority over sacred liturgy. He reinterpreted the traditional exodus imagery, linking his approaching death to a sacrificial offering that inaugurates a new covenant and provides forgiveness.
The temple cleansing incident, while debated as either a call for reform or a symbolic prediction of destruction, demonstrated Jesus’s claim to authority over the most sacred space in Judaism. His actions, rooted in Jewish hopes for a cleansed temple in the messianic era, sparked a confrontation with the religious authorities about the source of his authority.
Finally, Jesus’s teaching on his impending suffering and death, while rooted in Jewish ideas of the suffering righteous and the Servant of Isaiah 53, emphasized the paradoxical nature of his messianic role. He predicted his rejection, death, and vindication through resurrection, associating his suffering with his identity as the Son of Man.
The chapter concludes by highlighting the resurrection as the ultimate vindication of Jesus’s claims and the divine endorsement of his mission. God’s raising of Jesus from the dead affirmed his unique authority, confirming his identity as the Son of God and Son of Man, the one seated at God’s right hand and possessing power over judgment and salvation.
Chapter 6: Jesus’s Community of the New Era: The Calling of Those Who Respond
This chapter explores the formation and character of the new community that emerged from Jesus’s ministry. While Jesus initially focused on calling Israel to repent and embrace God’s kingdom, the rejection he faced led to the formation of a distinct group, drawn from both Jews and Gentiles, who responded to his message and accepted his authority.
The chapter begins by highlighting the ambiguity surrounding the church’s origins. While Jesus clearly established a group of followers, the term “church” (ἐκκλησία) appears only three times in the Gospels, suggesting that its emergence as a distinct entity was gradual. Nevertheless, Jesus’s formation of the Twelve, his teachings on discipleship, and his institution of the Lord’s Supper all point to his intention to create a new community grounded in faithful allegiance to him.
The chapter emphasizes the centrality of faith and repentance as the response to God’s grace. Jesus’s mission statement, “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:32), underscores the need for recognizing one’s need for God and turning to him for forgiveness and deliverance.
Jesus’s call to discipleship demanded a total commitment, requiring followers to prioritize allegiance to him above family, possessions, and even life itself. Discipleship involved counting the cost, embracing suffering, and persevering through challenges. Parables like the tower builder and the warring king (Luke 14:25-33) vividly illustrate the all-encompassing nature of Jesus’s call.
The formation of the Twelve reveals Jesus’s intention to establish a leadership structure for the new community. He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom, granting them authority to perform miracles and promising them a future role judging Israel.
The chapter then delves into the ethical character of the new community, highlighting love, grace, forgiveness, mercy, and service as defining qualities. Jesus taught his followers to love God and their neighbor, even their enemies, reflecting God’s character and serving as salt and light in a dark world. He emphasized the importance of a righteous integrity that goes beyond external observance and focuses on the heart’s transformation.
The chapter concludes by exploring the relationship between the new community and the world. Jesus challenged his followers to live a life of generosity, detachment from possessions, and preparedness for suffering. He warned against the dangers of wealth and materialism, calling for a lifestyle that reflects God’s priorities. His teachings on discipleship, often expressed through parables, provided a blueprint for navigating life in a hostile world while maintaining faithfulness to God’s kingdom.
Chapter 7: The Vindication to Come: Warning to Israel, Gentile Inclusion, and the Son of Man’s Return to Judge
This chapter examines Jesus’s teachings on judgment and vindication, emphasizing the themes of accountability, justice, and deliverance. It explores two primary types of judgment texts: general pronouncements and those focusing on the Son of Man’s role.
Many of Jesus’s general judgment pronouncements serve as warnings to Israel, highlighting the consequences of rejecting his message and failing to embrace God’s kingdom. He used provocative pronouncements, like the queen of the South and the people of Nineveh condemning Israel (Matt. 12:41-42), and parables like the rejected invitation (Matt. 22:2-14) to challenge Israel’s assumptions and emphasize the risk of missing out on God’s blessing.
Jesus’s warnings to Israel often included the theme of Gentile inclusion, a point that sparked further controversy. He challenged Israel’s sense of privilege, suggesting that Gentiles might fare better in the judgment due to their responsiveness to God’s grace.
While these warnings underscore Israel’s accountability, they do not preclude a future restoration for the nation. Jesus’s pronouncements about Israel’s house being desolate “until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord’” (Matt. 23:39) and Jerusalem being trampled “until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled” (Luke 21:24) suggest a future time of redemption. Paul’s teaching on Israel in Romans 9-11 and the early church’s continued expectation of Israel’s restoration further support this hope.
More comprehensive in scope are the Son of Man judgment texts and the imagery emerging from the kingdom parables. These texts emphasize the global reach of God’s kingdom and the ultimate accountability of all humanity. The parable of the wheat and the weeds (Matt. 13:24-30, 36-43) clarifies that judgment extends to the entire “field” of the “world” and will be executed by the Son of Man at the “close of the age.”
Jesus taught that judgment will be based on both the performance of righteousness and a person’s recognition of the Son of Man. The kingdom parables stress the importance of doing righteousness, while the Son of Man sayings highlight the significance of embracing Jesus. The parable of the sheep and the goats (Matt. 25:31-46) links judgment to compassionate service towards those associated with Jesus.
The apocalyptic Son of Man sayings, often appearing towards the end of Jesus’s ministry, emphasize the sudden, unexpected nature of the judgment and the need for constant vigilance and faithfulness. The Olivet Discourse, predicting the temple’s destruction and the Son of Man’s return, paints a vivid picture of the judgment to come.
Chapter 8: Jesus’s Final Week: A Dispute over Authority
This chapter examines the climactic events of Jesus’s final week, showcasing a decisive confrontation about his claims of authority. The week unfolds as a chain of events, each impacting the next, culminating in the crucifixion and resurrection.
By the start of this week, the Jewish leadership had already rejected Jesus’s claims and teachings, offended by his associations with sinners, his Sabbath healings, his reinterpretations of purity and the Law, his forgiveness of sins, and his perceived lack of piety. The final week escalates the tension, leading to a decisive confrontation about Jesus’s authority.
Jesus’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem, riding a donkey and acclaimed as a king, served as a messianic declaration, prompting a response from the religious leaders. Jesus wept over Jerusalem, predicting its destruction and lamenting the nation’s failure to recognize God’s visitation through him.
Jesus’s cleansing of the temple, whether viewed as a call for reform or a symbolic prediction of destruction, further challenged the religious authorities. It was an act of prophetic judgment upon the nation’s most sacred space, prompting a confrontation about the source of his authority.
Jesus responded to the leadership’s challenge by telling the parable of the wicked tenants (Matt. 21:33-46), portraying them as rejecting God’s beloved Son and foreshadowing his own impending death. This parable, along with other controversies surrounding taxes and resurrection, culminated in Jesus’s teaching on Psalm 110:1, highlighting his unique authority as Lord even over David.
The Olivet Discourse, given privately to the disciples, further affirmed Jesus’s authority as the one who will execute God’s judgment at the end of the age. He warned of the temple’s destruction and the coming tribulation, encouraging vigilance and faithfulness.
At the Last Supper, Jesus redesignated the Passover meal, linking his approaching death to a sacrifice that inaugurates a new covenant and provides forgiveness. This act, performed in private with his closest followers, further highlighted his authority to reinterpret sacred tradition.
Jesus’s authoritative claims and actions ultimately led to his arrest and trials. The Jewish leadership, unable to prove a charge of sedition, focused on Jesus’s claim to be the Son of God. In response, Jesus predicted his imminent vindication, proclaiming that he would be exalted to God’s right hand and return as judge. The Jewish leadership deemed these claims blasphemous, leading to his condemnation.
The trial before Pilate centered on the political charge of kingship. While Pilate initially found no fault in Jesus, pressure from the Jewish leaders led to his crucifixion under the charge of being “King of the Jews.”
The resurrection stands as the ultimate vindication of Jesus’s claims, demonstrating God’s endorsement of his mission and confirming his unique authority. The resurrection affirms Jesus’s identity as the Son of God and Son of Man, the one who shares in God’s presence and possesses power over judgment and salvation. The early church creeds, particularly the Apostles’ Creed, summarize this understanding, highlighting the significance of the final week’s events for shaping Christian belief.
Conclusion: Jesus, the Uniquely Authoritative Revelator of God and Kingdom Hope
This book concludes by reaffirming the central message of Jesus’s ministry: the arrival of God’s promised kingdom. Jesus, as both prophet and king, explained and embodied God’s plan, offering hope, forgiveness, and deliverance to all who recognize their need for him.
Jesus’s actions, particularly his miracles, demonstrate his divine authority and challenge us to consider his true identity. He redefined the boundaries of religious community, welcoming outcasts and emphasizing the importance of a heart transformed by God’s grace.
The church, called to reflect God’s character and share the message of hope, faces a world that often rejects Jesus and his claims. Yet, the resurrection stands as the ultimate assurance of God’s vindication, confirming Jesus’s identity and mission.
The question of Jesus remains central to understanding ourselves and our place in the world. To know Jesus is to know God and to discover the true meaning of life, finding hope and eternal life in his kingdom.