John
17:1-5 (NIV) After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:
"Father,
the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you
granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all
those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you,
the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you
glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father,
glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world
began.
NOTE: This is a
pretty strong statement from Jesus about his deity and the trinity (or at least
duality). Both Father and Son are glorified. Jesus has authority, from the
Father, over all people. Eternal life is knowing God the Father and Jesus.
Jesus had glory before the world even began. Clearly, they are separate, and
yet they share many things (glory, authority, and eternality). These are not
the statements of Paul, but Jesus' very words. Admittedly, John's gospel is
likely written after all the other apostles are dead, although we are not sure.
And the fact that the temple's destruction is not even mentioned suggests it
may have been written before 70AD as opposed to the usual assumption of
90-100AD. The later date does not eliminate all the eyewitnesses, just the
apostles. Still, even if it was the late date, of all people, John had no
incentive to make up something that was not true. And least of all, to ascribe
deity to Jesus. No, the logical argument leads us to accept these words as
Jesus, and so forces us to face the fact of his deity and its implications on
our own life.
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