The Paradox

A paradox is a statement that apparently contradicts itself and yet might be true. There are many

great truths in the fields of science, sociology and medicine that are paradoxes. The Bible never contradicts itself, but might appear to do so some times. Many truths about the Lord Jesus Christ fall into this category.

God and Man

Jesus was not only in the form of God (Philippians 2:6), but He was God (John 1:1-3), the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15); God was manifest in the flesh in Jesus (I Timothy 3:16). The claims of Christ towards His deity are many and varied. He said that He existed before Abraham (John 8:58), and that He was equal with the Father (John 5:17, 18). Jesus claimed the ability to forgive sins (Mark 2:5–7), which the Bible teaches was something that God alone could do (Isaiah 43:25).

The paradox is, without ceasing to be God, He was a human being. Jesus’ human incarnation is the basis of our being justified by God; it was the act of pre-existent Christ voluntarily assuming a human body and human nature. He didn’t give up His deity, but merely set aside His right to His glory and power and subjected Himself to human limitations. Romans 1:3, 4 makes this clear: ‘’He was a descendant of David with respect to his humanity and was declared by the resurrection from the dead to be the powerful Son of God’’. Heb 2:14 says ‘’since the children have flesh and blood, He also shared the same things, so that by His death He might destroy the one who has the power of death’’. (The concept of overcoming the power of death through death is another paradox).

Jesus was 100% human as if He were not God and 100% God as if He were not human.

Master and Servant

Christ is the Master of the universe. He is “the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether they are kings, lords, rulers, or powers. All things have been created through him and for him’’ (Col 1:15, 16). Jesus Himself confirms this when He told His disciples, after His resurrection, that all power in heaven and earth had been given to Him. The night before His crucifixion He told His disciples ‘’You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right because that is what I am’’ (John  13:13). Old Testament prophecies reflect the same sentiment when they refer to the coming Messiah. Wherever people worshipped Him, He accepted their obeisance GRACEFULLY, as due to a sovereign deity.

Is it not amazing then, this Supreme Master should also be called a ‘servant’ in the Holy Scriptures, some times by the very people who called Him Master? He is the ‘Servant’ referred to in Isaiah  52:13  "Look! My servant will prosper, and he will be exalted and lifted up…very high”. St Paul tells us in Philippians 2:7 that He took the humble position of a slave. Jesus told people that He came to serve, not to be served and exalted virtues of humility, meekness in the Sermon on the Mount. He advised His disciples that whoever wants to be first, must be the last. He put this into practice by washing His disciples’ feet. He identified Himself with people at the lowest rung of social ladder. It is the importance of this Servant that the Jews in Jesus’ time miscalculated. Even today many underestimate the importance of Jesus’ life and work and it is our duty to point to them His divine nature.

Priest and Sacrifice

In the ancient sacrificial system, the death of the animal that brought forgiveness was only a temporary provision, looking forward to the death of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 9:9 – 10:28). The only access to God was through the high priest who would offer a sacrifice and use the animal’s blood to atone first for his own sins and then for the people’s sins. However, even during the Old Testament times, the Bible insisted that God desires obedience and a right heart, not empty compliance to the sacrifice system (Psalms 40:6-8).

Christ came to offer His body on the cross for us as the sacrifice that is completely acceptable to God. This perfect High Priest, designated by God, carried His own blood into the altar of Calvary and offered it for the sin of the world, once and for all. God named Him as a high priest forever. During His life time on earth, Jesus  preached, taught, told parables, performed miracles and helped people in need –all priestly duties. Simultaneously He was our Passover Lamb (1Corinth 5:7), gave Himself as a living sacrifice (Ephesians 5:7). The priest himself being the sacrificial animal is an amazing paradox, an eternal mystery.

Shepherd and Lamb

God as shepherd was a familiar theme in pastoral Palestine (Genesis 49:24). The idea recurs across the Old Testament. Isaiah foresaw the coming Messiah as a Shepherd tending His flock (40:11).  Moses and David were shepherds themselves by profession. Zechariah referred to the Messiah as a shepherd.  Jesus called Himself the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep, whose sheep recognize His voice and follow Him. ).  Matthew 9:36 says Jesus saw the multitude who gathered around Him  as sheep without shepherd and was deeply moved with compassion for them. New Testament authors referred to Jesus as the Great Shepherd (Hebrews, 1 Peter).

What is interesting here is, the Shepherd progressively turns into a Lamb in the New Testament! Ever since John the Baptist, fore-runner of Christ introduced Jesus as Lamb of God (John 1:29), this allegory gets more and more common.

The Book of Revelations describes Jesus as Lamb 18 times; often the word is coupled with ‘God’  - ‘God and the Lamb’, Lamb of God etc. The writer’s varied description of the Lamb is powerful and startling. Here is a list:

Revel    7:10 Salvation belongs to the Lamb –

7:14 Believers are washed in the blood of the Lamb –

7:17 the Lamb  is provider and comforter –

5:5, 12:14 & 17:14 He is the conqueror –

13:8 Portrayed as the object of worship –

15:3 the Lamb as the King, spectacular and amazing, just and true

19:7 the Bridegroom –

21:23 the Lamb is the source of light  –

21:27 the Lamb holds the Book of Life –

5:5, 22:1 the Lamb enthroned along with God.

Some more of the ‘Christian’ paradoxes are: The free will and predestination, the apparent conflicts in the teachings of St Paul and St.James, Jesus portrayed as Saviour and the judge at the same time, the teaching that those who want to save their lives will loose it, but those who loose it will save it etc. When you study the scriptures diligently and prayerfully with the help of the Holy Spirit, difficulties disappear.

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