A QUICK DEFENSE FOR CHRIST’S DEITY
According to Jesus, the Holy Spirit inspired David to recognize and worship the Messiah as his very own Lord whom God exalts to sit enthroned at his right hand:
“And Jesus began to say, as He taught in the temple, ‘How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? David himself said in the Holy Spirit, “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, Until I put Your enemies beneath Your feet.’” David himself calls Him “Lord”; so in what sense is He his son?’ And the large crowd enjoyed listening to Him.” Mark 12:35-37
At his trial Jesus confirmed that he is that very Messiah, being the Son of God who sits enthroned at God’s right hand, and that very Son of Man who will come with the clouds of heaven:
“And the high priest stood up in their midst and questioned Jesus, saying, ‘You answer nothing? What are these men testifying against You?’ But He kept silent and did not answer. Again the high priest was questioning Him and said to Him, ‘Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?’ And Jesus said, ‘I am; and you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.’ And tearing his tunics, the high priest said, ‘What further need do we have of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy; how does it seem to you?’ And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death.” Mark 14:60-64
Jesus attributed to himself the following OT texts to himself:
“You Are a Priest Forever Of David. A Psalm. Yahweh says to my Lord: ‘Sit at My right hand Until I put Your enemies as a footstool for Your feet.’” Psalm 110:1
“As I looked, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened… In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 New International Version (NIV)
What makes these OT texts remarkable is that David’s Lord and the One like a Son of Man is depicted as receiving the very worship which only God receives,
“Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.” Daniel 7:27 NIV
Reigns from heaven itself where only God Almighty himself rules from,
“He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord mocks them.” Psalm 2:4
“Yahweh is in His holy temple; Yahweh’s throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.” Psalm 11:4
“Yahweh has established His throne in the heavens, And His kingdom rules over all.” Psalm 103:19
“Who is like Yahweh our God, The One who sits on high,” Psalm 113:5
“The heavens are the heavens of Yahweh, But the earth He has given to the sons of men.” Psalm 115:16
And rides the clouds of heaven like only God does,
“Wrapping Yourself with light as with a cloak, Stretching out the heavens like a tent curtain. He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters; He sets up the clouds to be His chariot; He walks upon the wings of the wind;” Psalm 104:2-3
“Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, a good distance from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought Yahweh would go out to the tent of meeting which was outside the camp. And it happened whenever Moses went out to the tent, that all the people would arise and stand, each at the entrance of his tent, and gaze after Moses until he entered the tent. And it happened whenever Moses entered the tent, that the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent; and Yahweh would speak with Moses. And all the people would see the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent. And all the people would arise and worship, each at the entrance of his tent. Thus Yahweh used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, and his attendant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.” Exodus 33:7-11
“Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of Yahweh filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had dwelt on it, and the glory of Yahweh filled the tabernacle. Now throughout all their journeys whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the sons of Israel would set out; but if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out until the day when it was taken up. For throughout all their journeys, the cloud of Yahweh was on the tabernacle by day, and there was fire in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel.” Exodus 40:34-38
“Now the cloud of Yahweh was over them by day when they set out from the camp.” Numbers 10:34
“Suddenly Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron and to Miriam, ‘You three come out to the tent of meeting.’ So the three of them came out. Then Yahweh came down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the doorway of the tent, and He called Aaron and Miriam. And then both came forward, and He said, ‘Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, Yahweh, shall make Myself known to him in a vision. I shall speak with him in a dream. Not so, with My servant Moses, He is faithful in all My household; With him I speak mouth to mouth, Indeed clearly, and not in riddles, And he beholds the form of Yahweh. Why then were you not afraid To speak against My servant, against Moses?’” Numbers 12:4-8
“There is none like the God of Jeshurun, Who rides the heavens to your help, And through the skies in His majesty.” Deuteronomy 33:26
“The oracle concerning Egypt. Behold, Yahweh is riding on a swift cloud and is about to come to Egypt; The idols of Egypt will shake at His presence, And the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them.” Isaiah 19:1
“Yahweh is slow to anger and great in power, And Yahweh will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. Beth In whirlwind and storm is His way, And clouds are the dust beneath His feet.” Nahum 1:3
At the same time, David’s Lord and the Danielic Son of Man is personally distinguished from YHWH God and the Ancient of Day who, according to the NT, is identified with God the Father.
By ascribing these OT prophecies to his own Person, the Markan Jesus has basically identified himself as the divine Son of Man and the exalted Lord of David who shares in the exclusive worship and everlasting dominion of God Almighty.
In other words, Jesus in Mark claims to be the unique divine Son of God who is essentially one with God the Father.
FURTHER READING
The Son of Man Rides the Clouds Pt. 1a, Pt. 1b, Pt. 2a, Pt. 2b
DAVID’S MULTI-PERSONAL LORD PT. 1, PT. 2
Revisiting the implications that Psalm 110 has on the divine identity of the Messiah Pt. 1, Pt. 2
Answering Islam Blog 