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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
Speaking of Jesus' Second Coming, Matthew 24:36 (and Mark 13:32) tells us, "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."When Jesus spoke th...
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Ezekiel Kimosop
I believe that Jesus as God the Son, being full of all divine essence other than the glory of God that He temporarily forfeited, knew of the day and the hour but it was not permissible for him to disclose it because it would defeat God's higher purposes. This is why he gave the signs of the times of his coming and left it at that. If Jesus were to give this date you can guess how human beings would behave! True Christology affirms that Jesus never lost his divinity at any time even as he took on human flesh. He was fully Man and fully God. It would therefore be inconceivable to declare that he had absolutely no knowledge of the day and the hour of His coming. I believe he made the declaration in humility and divine wisdom and not out of divine limitations on His omniscience. Jesus simply taught that humanly speaking it was impossible to know that date. Hebrew thought has this strange parallelism which communicates truths in a poetic way. Just remember that on several occasions Jesus often concealed his divinity without expressly denying it.. When the rich young ruler called him Good, notice his strange reply in Mark 10:18 "And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God." Obviously Jesus acknowledged that He was God. In Matthew 26:63-64 the High Priest orders " I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. 64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven." Jesus simply confirmed his divinity in a subtle way. Why would the divine Jesus not know of the date of his coming?
Terry Galloway
When Jesus was here as the perfect, Passover lamb come to die for our sins, He was here also to correct the religion of the time. His teaching was very important to show us who Father God is. He demonstrated the importance of prayer by making constant connection with His Father asking even that the words He said would not be His but His Father's. He is God and will always be. I agree that He gave up rights to His deity while He was here as man and each day sought God the Father's will; modeling for us to use the Holy Spirit to guide us in prayer, Bible study and then what we say and do to represent Jesus throughout our day. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. - Colossians 3:17
Al Mari
All the questions relating to the divinity and humanity of Jesus can only be understood by knowing what comprises "what is God". As basic as the answer is, this primordial question has not been elucidated adequately nor popularized among Christians. Indeed the Father and the Son are different as they are distinct and separate although "one". But, before answering "why" they are, we need to know "who" the God referred to by the writers of the O.T and the N.T One has to be reminded that Jesus was "slain from the foundation of the world" (Rev. 13:8). This was already a strategic plan, a covenant with the Father God for Jesus, the Logos/Creator (John 1:1-3) to come as a Messiah/ Passover Lamb and be "slain" to take onto himself the penalty for the sin of mankind for reconciliation with the Father (2Cor. 5:18; Col. 1:20). This was a covenant, not written as such, even before the covenant with Israel and alluded to in the "faith (of) Jesus". This Creator, this God (Elohim) in Gen. 1, was NOT the Father God. He was named and specifically identified as YHVH ELOHIM in Gen. 2:4. While the Father(God) created all, he did this through YHVH ELOHIM/ Logos, through Jesus (Col. 1:16; Jn. 1:3). To die for mankind means that this Creator God (YHVH) has to be incarnated as "man-Jesus", a human being. And, by so doing, he has to divest all his divine powers intrinsic to him being the "YHVH ELOHIM", the Creator, yet still God nevertheless. All his powers were given up by him voluntarily and depended on the Father to imbue him "full of spirit" at baptism in the river Jordan. By being incarnate, he voluntarily restricted his powers. This is the faith (of) Jesus in the Father to do this Spirit-infusion, after incarnation, as we are promised by Jesus that after his resurrection, the Spirit of power would be sent to us at Pentecost. This is the Spirit of power that Jesus used to overcome Satan (Matt. 4:1-11) and to do all his miracles. There was no miracle from Jesus prior to this Spirit-infusion As a human being, like any human being, he is classified as "god" (Jn. 10:34; Ps. 82;6). The English word "god" is generic, much like the Hebrew word "Elohim" and Greek word "Theos". Satan is the "god of this world" (2 Cor. 4':4) as angels and magistrates are classified as "elohim or gods". But, while "god", they are forbidden to be worshipped. This is why man-Jesus, while YHVH ELOHIM incarnate (Creator God incarnate), as a human being, did not know his "second coming", and only the Father knew. He acknowledged his limits, being man-god, in Matt. 24:36; Mk. 13:32. Now, that all powers are given to him as "Son of God", post-resurrection, he knows exactly when he will return.
Randall Tuura
It has to do with the three persons of the Godhead. In one place, John records Jesus as saying, "all that the father hath given me shall come to me..." (John 6:37). In his pre-incarnate state he knew all who would be saved. As a man, he did not have this knowledge. It is the same when he said, "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." As a man, he did not have this information. We can only speculate, but if he did give us the date it would have had a definite effect on life here on earth. One that the Father did not want.
Gene Coleman
I believe that there is possibly a simple yet different answer than what has previously been considered or discussed. Jesus gave them very skillfully the absolutely best and most completely correct answer if they understood and accepted that He and Father were Spiritual one. He in essence was simply stating very tactfully that it was not in God's plan for that to be revealed by Him to man at this time, but yes being one with God Jesus knew and had ability of being all knowing and all powerful to fully fulfill and reveal the perfect will of God. During this life we will probably never completely understand the full relationship of Jesus as both the Son of Man and the Son of God but only if Jesus the Son of Man had chose not to seek or have this revealed to him would He not have known.
joyce whaley
Unlike my theologian friends i like to keep things simple...Jesus said no longer do i call you servants but i call you friends John 15:15. i personally believe that if the Lord had of revealed to Jesus his day of return Jesus would tell it. Case and point: My best friend and I share many secrets and it is nothing that she would not disclose from me. Jesus would reveal the day and the hour of the Lords return because he is a friend.
Danny Hickman
Supporter
I think Jesus was saying that God the Father had not yet decided on a time for His return. He said 'only God the Father knows' when He, Jesus, would return to earth for His church. Jesus didn't know because God didn't know. God had not yet made up His mind when Jesus' return would be. "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father (Mark 13:32). Why does Jesus not know? Maybe He means that the Father had not yet decided at that time. He paints a picture of what would be happening in the world when the time was near. What He was describing was going on at the time, the time has always been "near." He said to be ready. There's a saying in my part of town that says 'if you stay ready you don't have to get ready.' That's what Jeaus was telling them. Get ready and stay ready for His inevitable return. He couldn't tell them of a day and hour because the Father hadn't told Him, and that was because the Father had not set a definite time.
Donna Williams
I have read the previous answers to the question and of course, we all have different opinions. I would like to share that some things are still a mystery. Someone shared that the Father doesn't know or hasn't decided when Jesus will return. This opinion is inconsistent with the nature of God. He is omniscient and knows all things. I believe that the Father has chosen not to reveal exactly when His Son will return, but has given us signs to watch for that will precede His return. God in His infinite wisdom has predetermined all things before the foundation of the world. Jesus forewarned the disciples of things to come. I believe that the Holy Spirit is preparing us for the return of Christ. I believe that we should be praying and watching as Jesus instructed the disciples. I believe the message is that we need to be ready at all times. I believe that it is a test of our faith and obedience. Many are living as if Jesus is not coming back at all and have become like the five foolish virgins in Matthew 25. Jesus said, "What I say unto you, I say unto all: Watch."
Albert Ogier
The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. Psalm 110: 1 Luke 20: 42-43. God knows he will win but how long it takes depends on our reaction. Only when all his enemies are under his control will he leave his seat and return. Those who are expecting him to return and sort everything out are simply delaying everything.
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