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_001.jpg) Christians and Muslims agree that God is all-powerful and
all-knowing. The Gospels show that Jesus was not all-powerful, and not
all-knowing, since he had some limitations.
Mark tells us in his gospel that Jesus was unable to do
any powerful work in his hometown except few things: “He could not do any
miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.” (Mark
6:5). Mark also tells us that when Jesus tried to heal a certain blind
man, the man was not healed after the first attempt, and Jesus had to try a
second time (see Mark 8:22-26).
Therefore, although we hold a great love and respect for
Jesus, we need to understand that he is not the all-powerful God.
Mark’s Gospel also reveals that Jesus had limitations in
his knowledge. In Mark 13:32, Jesus declared that he himself does not know
when the last day will occur, but the Father alone knows that (see also Matthew
24:36).
Therefore, Jesus could not have been the all-knowing
God. Some will say that Jesus knew when the last day will occur, but he chose
not to tell. But that complicates matters further. Jesus could have said that
he knows but he does not wish to tell. Instead, he said that he does not
know. We must believe him. Jesus does not lie at all.
The Gospel of Luke also reveals that Jesus had limited
knowledge. Luke says that Jesus increased in wisdom (Luke 2:52). In Hebrews
too (Hebrews 5:8) we read that Jesus learned obedience. But God’s knowledge
and wisdom is always perfect, and God does not learn new things. He knows
everything always. So, if Jesus learned something new, that proves that he did
not know everything before that, and thus he was not God.
Another example for the limited knowledge of Jesus is
the fig tree episode in the Gospels. Mark tells us as follows: “The next
day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a
fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it,
he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs.” (Mark
11:12-13).
It is clear from these verses that the knowledge of
Jesus was limited on two counts. First, he did not know that the tree had no
fruit until he came to it. Second, he did not know that it was not the right
season to expect figs on trees.
Can he become God later? No! Because there is only one
God, and He is God from everlasting to everlasting (see Psalms 90:2).
Someone may say that Jesus was God but he took the form
of a servant and therefore became limited. Well, that would mean that God
changed. But God does not change. God said so according to Malachi 3:6.
Jesus never was God, and never will be. In the Bible,
God declares: “Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.”
(Isaiah 43:10).
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