In the book of John there are certain scenarios where the Jews tried to capture or kill our Lord Jesus Christ. This reaction from the Jews were from disbelief on the claims and teachings of Christ. As believers of Christ, we of course do the opposite of the unbelieving Jews.
Among the claims of Christ which the unbelieving Jews opposed is His claim of deity and equality with God the Father. We cite verses in the book of John wherein the Jews reacted negatively, and even violently, whenever Christ makes such claim. However, cults who do not believe in the deity of Christ interpret such reaction from Jews to be just a misunderstanding. These cult argue that Christ never actually made a claim of deity or equality with the Father but the Jews simply misunderstood Him. They even comment further that those religions who believe the Christ is God are on the side of the unbelieving Jews for thinking the same thing.
A dialogue would help us illustrate this situation. I recall a dialogue I had with a member of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) a long time ago. The INC does not believe that Jesus Christ:
- is equal with the Father
- pre-existed during the Old Testament period
- is God.
Here is the discussion:
Gerry: In John 5:18 we see the unbelieving Jews tried to kill Christ because He called God his Father and thus making him equal with God.
INC: Oh like the Jews you misunderstood that passage. If you read the next verse Christ even said he cannot do anything by Himself. Therefore Christ is not really making himself equal with the Father.
Gerry: Yes he did say that but if you read further on the same verse we will find that whatever the Father does, the Son also does. That looks like equality to me. Anyway, in John 8:58 the verse proves that Christ already existed even during the Old Testament times as He was before Abraham. And the Jews tried to kill Him again.
INC: You misunderstood again like the Jews. He existed before Abraham because He was a plan in God's mind. That's how we interpret the Word in John 1:1, remember? If you were to read the entire Old Testament, all we see are prophecies about Christ. Christ wasn't active during the Old Testament.
Gerry: But in John 17:5 Jesus asked the Father to give Him the glory He had before the world was. Well to move on, the Jews were about to stone Christ to death in John 10:33 because He claimed to be God.
INC: Are you on the side of the Jews, Gerry? We don't read anything in the chapter about Christ claiming something like, "I am God." In fact in verse 34 He says others are called 'gods' even though they are not really God.
Gerry: So you're saying that these unbelieving Jews just misunderstood Christ and that Christ never actually made such claims to deity?
INC: That's what I have been saying to you from the very beginning. It makes me want to conclude that you are on the side of the Jews because their accusations are so far from what Christ actually said. These Jews have the habit of misrepresenting Christ.
Gerry: But what about in John 19:7? The Jews wanted Christ dead because He claimed to be the Son of God. Am I to believe that the Jews misunderstood Christ and He never claimed to be the Son of God?
INC: Huh? Well that's... ah... err... uhm...
The INC in this dialogue is of course biased to their doctrine that Christ is only a man. The INC argues here that the Jews just misunderstood Christ on verses like John 5:18, 8:58, and 10:33. But when faced with John 19:7 their theory of misunderstanding Jews falls flat to the ground because the INC believes Christ is the Son of God. Meaning, they'll be forced to admit that the Jews really understood Christ in John 19:7 and thus becoming inconsistent. Some of the other INC members I discussed with treat this as an isolated case. But then again, their inconsistency is screaming from their biases. I never really believe that the cults adapted the Protestant system of Sola Scriptura because they are still governed by their traditions and interpretation of their leaders, much like the Church of Rome.
Among the claims of Christ which the unbelieving Jews opposed is His claim of deity and equality with God the Father. We cite verses in the book of John wherein the Jews reacted negatively, and even violently, whenever Christ makes such claim. However, cults who do not believe in the deity of Christ interpret such reaction from Jews to be just a misunderstanding. These cult argue that Christ never actually made a claim of deity or equality with the Father but the Jews simply misunderstood Him. They even comment further that those religions who believe the Christ is God are on the side of the unbelieving Jews for thinking the same thing.
A dialogue would help us illustrate this situation. I recall a dialogue I had with a member of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) a long time ago. The INC does not believe that Jesus Christ:
- is equal with the Father
- pre-existed during the Old Testament period
- is God.
Here is the discussion:
Gerry: In John 5:18 we see the unbelieving Jews tried to kill Christ because He called God his Father and thus making him equal with God.
INC: Oh like the Jews you misunderstood that passage. If you read the next verse Christ even said he cannot do anything by Himself. Therefore Christ is not really making himself equal with the Father.
Gerry: Yes he did say that but if you read further on the same verse we will find that whatever the Father does, the Son also does. That looks like equality to me. Anyway, in John 8:58 the verse proves that Christ already existed even during the Old Testament times as He was before Abraham. And the Jews tried to kill Him again.
INC: You misunderstood again like the Jews. He existed before Abraham because He was a plan in God's mind. That's how we interpret the Word in John 1:1, remember? If you were to read the entire Old Testament, all we see are prophecies about Christ. Christ wasn't active during the Old Testament.
Gerry: But in John 17:5 Jesus asked the Father to give Him the glory He had before the world was. Well to move on, the Jews were about to stone Christ to death in John 10:33 because He claimed to be God.
INC: Are you on the side of the Jews, Gerry? We don't read anything in the chapter about Christ claiming something like, "I am God." In fact in verse 34 He says others are called 'gods' even though they are not really God.
Gerry: So you're saying that these unbelieving Jews just misunderstood Christ and that Christ never actually made such claims to deity?
INC: That's what I have been saying to you from the very beginning. It makes me want to conclude that you are on the side of the Jews because their accusations are so far from what Christ actually said. These Jews have the habit of misrepresenting Christ.
Gerry: But what about in John 19:7? The Jews wanted Christ dead because He claimed to be the Son of God. Am I to believe that the Jews misunderstood Christ and He never claimed to be the Son of God?
INC: Huh? Well that's... ah... err... uhm...
The INC in this dialogue is of course biased to their doctrine that Christ is only a man. The INC argues here that the Jews just misunderstood Christ on verses like John 5:18, 8:58, and 10:33. But when faced with John 19:7 their theory of misunderstanding Jews falls flat to the ground because the INC believes Christ is the Son of God. Meaning, they'll be forced to admit that the Jews really understood Christ in John 19:7 and thus becoming inconsistent. Some of the other INC members I discussed with treat this as an isolated case. But then again, their inconsistency is screaming from their biases. I never really believe that the cults adapted the Protestant system of Sola Scriptura because they are still governed by their traditions and interpretation of their leaders, much like the Church of Rome.
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