Could Jesus from Nazareth really have been
history's first perfect man?
history's first perfect man?
The dictionary defines perfection as "a state of complete excellence; without blemish or defect; faultless." Perfection, in human terms, is hard for us to understand. This is because we don't know of anyone who is perfect. Sooner or later everyone we know will let us down. Could Jesus actually have lived a perfect life? Was he completely unsoiled by sin? What was this man from Nazareth really like?
What Jesus Said About Himself
Jesus instructed his disciples: "When you pray say, 'Father, forgive us for our debts just as we forgive those who owe us.'" But you might be surprised to know that Jesus never prayed those words for himself. He never confessed his sins or asked for forgiveness. He never showed any consciousness of moral failure and appeared to have no guilt feelings.
The fact that Jesus felt no sense of sin is interesting in the light of the fact that he possessed a keen judgment of the sins of other men. "He knew what was in man." (John 2:25). He also knew that "it is not what goes into a man which corrupts him; it is what comes out of his heart." (Mark 7:18, 20). He was quick to expose the hypocrisy of others, and yet when he claimed his own perfection, he did not see in himself even a sliver of inconsistency.
One day a young man came running up to Jesus and knelt before the master. "Good teacher, what good thing shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
"Why do you call me 'good'?" the teacher asked. "There is only one who is good—and that's God." (Mark 10:17-18; Luke 18:18-19).
This statement reveals the Nazarene's thinking. He knew full well no one is truly good but God. In the context of his comment to the man, it is obvious that Jesus wanted the man to think about the true goodness of God.
What Jesus Said About Himself
Jesus instructed his disciples: "When you pray say, 'Father, forgive us for our debts just as we forgive those who owe us.'" But you might be surprised to know that Jesus never prayed those words for himself. He never confessed his sins or asked for forgiveness. He never showed any consciousness of moral failure and appeared to have no guilt feelings.
The fact that Jesus felt no sense of sin is interesting in the light of the fact that he possessed a keen judgment of the sins of other men. "He knew what was in man." (John 2:25). He also knew that "it is not what goes into a man which corrupts him; it is what comes out of his heart." (Mark 7:18, 20). He was quick to expose the hypocrisy of others, and yet when he claimed his own perfection, he did not see in himself even a sliver of inconsistency.
One day a young man came running up to Jesus and knelt before the master. "Good teacher, what good thing shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
"Why do you call me 'good'?" the teacher asked. "There is only one who is good—and that's God." (Mark 10:17-18; Luke 18:18-19).
This statement reveals the Nazarene's thinking. He knew full well no one is truly good but God. In the context of his comment to the man, it is obvious that Jesus wanted the man to think about the true goodness of God.
So when he later takes for himself the claims and powers of God Almighty, it is obvious he believed himself to be absolutely good, just like God the Father.
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