Who Is Jesus?
This past week I participated in a Christian/Muslim conversation related to our different views of Jesus and a video of that event is now available.
This event was organized by St. Louis Community College (where it took place) in partnership with ReThink315. Here’s how it was advertised:
Both Muslims and Christians hold Jesus in high regard. But their views differ significantly when it comes to His divinity, death, and resurrection. So what can we know about Jesus from history? What does the evidence suggest? And whose understanding of Jesus makes the most sense of the facts? Let’s talk about it—together, with two Muslim thinkers, two Christian thinkers, and a room full of (mostly) non-Christian college students. What do Muslims and Christians believe about Jesus—and why?
Click here to WATCH a video recording of this event
The Melchizedek Scroll
Below are selections from 11Q13, which is a fascinating scroll discovered at Qumran written sometime around 100 BC. I discussed this ancient Jewish text during my presentation since it presents Israel’s coming Messiah (whom the author calls “Melchizedek”) as a divine being who came to cancel debt, atone for sin, and fulfill all that was written of him in the Hebrew Scriptures—including Daniel 9 and Isaiah’s famous prophecy of the Suffering Servant. In other words, the Christian view of Jesus’ person and work is consistent with Jewish messianic expectations.
The jubilee] applies to the Last Days and concerns the captives, just as Isaiah said: “To proclaim the jubilee to the captives” (Is 61:1)…Melchizedek…will return them to what is rightfully theirs. He will proclaim to them the jubilee, thereby releasing them from the debt of all their sins. This word will thus come in the first week of the jubilee period that follows nine jubilee periods. Then the “Day of Atonement” shall follow at the end of the tenth jubilee period, when he shall atone for all the Sons of Light and the people who are predestined to Melchizedek…For this is the time decreed for “the year of Melchizedek’s favor” (Is 61:2, modified) and for his hosts, together with the holy ones of God, for a kingdom of judgment, just as it is written concerning him in the Songs of David, “A godlike being has taken his place in the council of God; in the midst of the divine beings he holds judgment” (Ps 82:1). Scripture also says about him, “Over it take your seat in the highest heaven; a divine being will judge the peoples” (Ps 7:7–8) …This visitation is the Day of Salvation that He has decreed…through Isaiah the prophet concerning all the captives, inasmuch as Scripture says, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your divine being reigns’” (Is 52:7). This scripture’s interpretation: “the mountains” are the prophets, they who were sent to proclaim God’s truth and to prophesy to all Israel. And “the messenger” is the Anointed of the Spirit, of whom Daniel spoke, “After the sixty-two weeks, an Anointed One shall be cut off” (Dan. 9:26). The “messenger who brings good news, who announces salvation” is the one of whom it is written, “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, the day of vengeance of our God; 20 to comfort all who mourn” (Is 61:2)…“Your divine being” is Melchizedek who will deliver them from the power of Belial.”
For more information about The Melchizedek Scroll, see Craig Evans’ helpful book, Holman QuickSource Guide to the Dead Sea Scrolls, or click here for the Wikipedia page.
Related Episodes
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Religion on Trial, Humble Skeptic #5 with Craig Parton
Jewish Views of the Messiah, HS #38 with Daniel Boyariin
Death, Ghosts & Views of the Afterlife, HS #31 with Michael McClymond
Rethinking Apologetics, Humble Skeptic #23 with Jeremy Smith
Stories of Jesus: Can We Trust Them? HS #61 with Peter J. Williams
Faith Founded on Facts, Humble Skeptic #15 with Richard Bauckham and others
Decoding The Prophecies of Daniel, Humble Skeptic #68
The Jesus of History, Humble Skeptic #12
The Gospel Creed, Humble Skeptic #9
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